QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) – A car bomb explosion near a market in southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to 20 others. This tragic incident occurred on Sunday night in Qillah Abdullah, a city situated close to the Afghan border, according to Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Riaz.

The explosion not only claimed lives and caused injuries but also caused significant damage to the outer wall of a nearby building that houses paramilitary forces. As of now, no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, which adds to the ongoing atmosphere of uncertainty and fear in the region.

Authorities are likely to suspect ethnic Baloch separatists in this incident. These groups have a history of conducting attacks targeting both security forces and civilians throughout Balochistan and in other parts of Pakistan. The region has been noted for its long-standing insurgency, characterized by a series of violent incidents orchestrated by various separatist factions.

Shahid Rind, the spokesperson for the Balochistan government, condemned the car bombing and announced that an investigation into the attack is currently underway. These acts of violence continue to plague Balochistan, which has seen significant turmoil and unrest over the years due to the actions of insurgent groups.

Balochistan has been the focal point of a persistent insurgency in Pakistan, with numerous separatist organizations conducting assaults against the state and its forces. Among these groups is the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States since 2019. This designation underscores the international concern regarding the activities stemming from this region and the challenges the Pakistani government faces in addressing the violence.

The ongoing violence illustrates the complex socio-political landscape of Balochistan, where issues of ethnic identity, resource distribution, and political autonomy continue to elicit strong responses from different factions within the province. The recent bombing is yet another example of the precariousness that characterizes life in this part of Pakistan, emphasizing the urgent need for both security reforms and dialogue to address the underlying issues driving the conflict.