At least eight people were killed and several others injured when militants detonated a powerful car bomb outside the headquarters of Pakistan’s paramilitary security forces in Quetta on Tuesday, officials said.

Police said four attackers exited the vehicle before the blast and engaged security personnel in a fierce gunfight. All four were later killed by returning fire from the troops, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said.

Residents described the explosion as massive, audible from miles away. Ambulances rushed to the site in front of the Frontier Constabulary, and the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals. CCTV footage showed the car stopping at the gate of the compound, followed by an explosion and gunfire, which shattered windows of surrounding buildings and damaged nearby vehicles.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion falls on separatist militants who frequently target civilians and security forces in insurgency-hit Balochistan, where Quetta serves as the provincial capital. Provincial Health Minister Bakhat Kakar warned that the death toll could rise further.

Bugti condemned the attack, saying terrorists cannot break the nation’s resolve, and vowed to maintain peace and security in the province.

The attack comes weeks after a suicide bombing outside a stadium near Quetta killed at least 13 people and injured 30, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region. Balochistan has long faced insurgency from groups such as the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, which demand independence and have repeatedly targeted security forces and civilians.

Source: Agency