Islamabad, 23 July (H.S.): A bridge in Pakistan’s Balochistan province was damaged in a blast after unidentified armed men carried out an attack following the killing of insurgents by security forces. Authorities subsequently imposed curfews in several cities across the province.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, security forces killed 10 armed militants during operations in Mastung and Sorab districts.

According to a report by The Balochistan Post, unidentified armed individuals targeted a bridge near Angiri Cross on the Quetta-Karachi main highway in Khaad Street area of Mastung district on Wednesday evening. The explosion caused significant damage to the bridge, following which traffic movement on the Quetta-Karachi highway was suspended.

Several bridges in Balochistan have been targeted in recent days. Armed groups have reportedly destroyed bridges in Sorab, Kalat and Khuzdar districts.

Following the incident, the Balochistan government announced a curfew in Mastung’s Khadkocha sub-tehsil from 8 pm on Wednesday night. A public announcement was made instructing residents to remain indoors during the curfew period.

Authorities warned that anyone found violating the curfew orders could face severe action, including being shot.

Meanwhile, curfews have already been in place for several months in the Zehri tehsil of Nushki and Khuzdar districts. A similar restriction is also being enforced in Jiuni.

Earlier, the ISPR claimed that security forces had killed 10 armed militants and arrested two alleged female suicide bombers during operations in Sorab and Mastung.

The military’s media wing stated that the operations were conducted over a period of 48 hours, during which seven militants were killed in Sorab district and three in Mastung. Two alleged female suicide bombers, along with one of their facilitators, were also taken into custody.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar