Deadly Bomb Targets Police Escorting Polio Workers in Pakistan

Deadly Bomb Targets Police Escorting Polio Workers in Pakistan \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A bomb explosion near a police vehicle assigned to protect polio workers in Balochistan, Pakistan, killed nine people, including five children, and wounded 17 others. The attack comes amid heightened violence from separatist and Taliban groups targeting security forces and health campaigns. Pakistani and international officials condemned the bombing, underscoring the ongoing security challenges for health workers in Pakistan’s restive southwest region.

Deadly Bomb Attack on Pakistani Polio Campaign: Key Points

• Tragic Attack on Polio Campaign Escorts: A motorcycle bomb near a police vehicle in Balochistan killed nine, including five children, targeting officers safeguarding polio workers.
• Impact on Health Workers and Civilians: Health workers and civilians remain vulnerable amid increased militant attacks, which continue to threaten Pakistan’s anti-polio efforts.
• Escalating Violence in Balochistan: Separatist and Taliban-linked groups frequently target security personnel and public health initiatives in their fight against the government.
• International and National Condemnation: Leaders from Pakistan and the United Nations strongly condemned the attack, calling for accountability and enhanced protections.
• Ongoing Security Issues for Foreign Nationals: China, whose workers have been targeted in Balochistan, has reiterated its demand for increased security in the region, citing recent attacks on Chinese nationals.

Deep Look

A tragic bombing near a police vehicle in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has left nine dead and 17 others injured, including five children, in an attack that underscores the dangerous environment surrounding the country’s polio eradication efforts. The explosion occurred Friday in the district of Mastung, where police were en route to protect polio vaccination workers engaged in Pakistan’s latest anti-polio campaign. The bomb, attached to a motorcycle, detonated as a police convoy passed by, killing a police officer, five schoolchildren, and two bystanders who were close to the blast site. The intensity of the attack caused immediate casualties, with additional critically injured victims transported to Quetta, the provincial capital.

Local police chief Fateh Mohammad confirmed the details of the bombing, noting that the explosive-laden motorcycle was set off near a motorized rickshaw carrying schoolchildren. Seven people were killed instantly, while two others died from critical injuries at a hospital in Quetta, according to Wasim Baig, a spokesperson for the Balochistan health department. This attack marks the latest in a series of violent incidents aimed at disrupting Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to vaccinate 45 million children under five years old against polio, an initiative that is critical given the rise in new cases across the country.

While no group has claimed responsibility for this latest attack, suspicions have turned to separatist factions and Pakistani Taliban militants, both of whom have intensified attacks on police and civilians in recent months. These groups often oppose polio vaccination campaigns, promoting conspiracy theories that such efforts are Western-led plots to harm Muslim populations. Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the last countries globally where polio is endemic, and these militant-led disruptions continue to hinder eradication efforts. This year alone, Pakistan has reported 41 polio cases across 71 districts, with attacks on polio teams creating additional challenges for health authorities.

Mastung Police Chief Rehmat Ullah stated that the police van was heading to a health center to provide security for polio workers conducting a door-to-door vaccination drive. The national anti-polio campaign, launched on Monday, represents a significant step in response to rising polio cases. However, these efforts are increasingly hampered by security risks as insurgent groups escalate attacks on health campaigns, particularly in Balochistan and other sensitive regions.

The bombing follows another recent attack on a health center involved in the polio campaign in Orakzai, a northwestern district where militants targeted police protecting the center, leading to a shootout that killed two police officers and three of the assailants. In many parts of Pakistan, militant groups have consistently targeted health workers and security forces during vaccination campaigns, perpetuating dangerous myths that the vaccines are part of a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned Friday’s attack, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating militancy and protecting public health initiatives. Bugti declared that Pakistan would continue its fight against insurgent forces until they are fully removed from the country. Internationally, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres also issued a condemnation, calling the bombing “unacceptable” and urging Pakistani authorities to pursue those responsible and hold them accountable. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reiterated the importance of protecting health workers who risk their lives for public health in regions facing ongoing violence.

Balochistan has long been a center of insurgent activity, with several separatist groups regularly targeting government and security forces in their bid for independence from Pakistan’s central government. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the most active groups, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks, including bombings targeting both Pakistani forces and foreign nationals. Last month, the BLA conducted a bombing outside Karachi Airport aimed at Chinese nationals, resulting in the deaths of two Chinese workers and injuries to eight others. With thousands of Chinese nationals in Pakistan as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), security for Chinese workers remains a high priority for both governments.

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, recently urged Pakistani officials to take action against insurgents following the uptick in attacks on Chinese nationals and projects tied to CPEC, which includes infrastructure development, power plants, and agricultural initiatives. While Beijing has frequently demanded stronger security measures, Jiang’s statements this week underscore the high level of concern over these threats to Chinese workers. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, responding to the ambassador, reassured Chinese officials that Pakistan is fully committed to safeguarding Chinese nationals and BRI projects, a stance he confirmed had been communicated to Chinese leaders at the highest levels. However, Jiang described these statements as “perplexing,” hinting at possible frustration with Pakistan’s current security provisions.

These security concerns extend beyond diplomatic tensions. A Pakistani hotel chain, Avari, announced that the government has implemented new requirements for all transportation arrangements for Chinese guests, including mandatory use of bomb- and bullet-proof vehicles for airport transfers. This level of precaution reflects the complex security situation in Balochistan and across Pakistan, where the threat of insurgent attacks remains a daily reality for both Pakistani citizens and foreign workers.

The deadly attack in Mastung serves as a reminder of the challenges that Pakistan faces in its ongoing battle against polio and militancy. Health workers, police, and civilians are caught in the crossfire of a larger geopolitical struggle, with militant factions targeting efforts that aim to improve public health and safety. Despite these attacks, Pakistan remains resolute in its commitment to eradicating polio, although the path forward will likely require even stronger security measures to protect those on the front lines of these campaigns.

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