����ֱ��

QUETTA: A suicide bomber struck a political rally in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 31, a senior police official said, as party leaders declared three days of mourning.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most impoverished province, has been the site of a long-running insurgency that has intensified in recent months, with separatist militants attacking security forces, government officials and people from other provinces. These militant groups have long accused the Pakistani state of exploiting the province’s vast natural resources without equitably sharing the benefits with local communities.

Pakistani authorities have, however, consistently rejected these accusations, maintaining that a significant number of development projects are underway to uplift Balochistan’s economy, improve infrastructure and expand access to education and health care.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s suicide bombing, which targeted a rally arranged by the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) in Quetta to mark the fourth death anniversary of its former leader Attaullah Mengal.

“Around eight to 10 kilograms of explosive material was used in the attack,” Senior Superintendent Police Muhammad Baloch told Arab News, confirming the number of dead and injured. “Security officials have collected the evidence from the crime scene and investigations are underway.”

Baloch said the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who had been waiting outside the venue of the rally and detonated his vest as party workers and senior members were leaving the stadium.

BNP-M, an ethnic Baloch nationalist political party headed by former parliamentarian, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, is a key force in the province’s Baloch-majority districts. Mengal survived another attack during a rally in March against the arrest of ethnic rights group leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch.

“After the rally, I was escorting our guests, including the opposition leader, Mehmood Khan Achakzai,” Mengal told Arab News. “As we left and moved a little ahead, the blast occurred.”

“The government didn’t inform us of any threat alert before the rally,” he continued. “We have announced three days of mourning and a black day today. Further actions will be announced after discussions with our aligned political parties.”

Medical officials have also shifted eight critically injured people to the Combined Military Hospital, according to Dr. Waseem Baig, Media Coordinator for the provincial health department.

Balochistan remains of strategic significance for Pakistan, where China has invested heavily in road and infrastructure projects linked to its Belt and Road Initiative since 2014.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Afghanistan’s veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi reached 100 wickets in Twenty20 internationals as he helped his team beat Pakistan by 18 runs in a tri-series match in Sharjah on Tuesday.

Pakistan had won the first meeting between the teams in the competition by 31 runs.

On Tuesday, Nabi grabbed 2-20 to help restrict Pakistan to 151-9 as they chased 169.

Ibrahim Zadran’s 45-ball 65 and Sediqullah Atal’s brisk 64 helped Afghanistan to 169-5 in their 20 overs despite Pakistan paceman Faheem Ashraf’s career best 4-27.

Ashraf’s previous best of 3-5 was against Scotland at Edinburgh in 2018.

In reply, Pakistan briefly looked on course to chase down the target with Fakhar Zaman scoring an 18-ball 25 in his 100th T20I but Nabi dismissed him and Mohammad Haris, for oner, to end all hopes.

Tail-ender Haris Rauf top-scored with 34 not out, hitting four sixes off 16 balls.

Spinner Rashid Khan, until Tuesday the only Afghanistan bowler to take 100 or more T20I wickets, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Noor Ahmad all took two wickets.

Before the T20 international, players observed a minute of silence for the victims of natural disasters in their countries: an earthquake which has killed more than 1,400 in Afghanistan and the deadly floods in Pakistan.

Two thirds of the way through the three-nation tournament, that also includes hosts United Arab Emirates, Pakistan leads the table with Afghanistan second.

After a rest day on Wednesday, Pakistan face the winless UAE on Thursday. The group stage ends with the hosts taking on Afghanistan.

The top two teams will play the final on September 7.