Suicide attack targets soldiers in Pakistani city of Quetta

By Asim Khan and Sophia Saifi, CNN

Three people have died and 15 were injured in an attack on paramilitary troops in the city of Quetta in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan.

Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province near the Afghan border. The province has seen a decades-long insurgency by separatists who demand independence from Pakistan, citing what they say is the state’s monopoly and exploitation of the province’s mineral resources.

The District Inspector General of Police for Quetta, Azhar Akram, confirmed to CNN that the attack was caused by a suicide bomber and took place early Sunday morning at a checkpoint of the Frontier Corp, the paramilitary troops stationed within the city of Quetta.

The Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the blast in a statement released to CNN.

While there have been targeted attacks by the TTP on the Frontier Corp in July, the deadliest recent assault carried out by the militant group was in April, when a blast outside a luxury hotel in Quetta killed four people and injured 12 others.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the incident in a post on Twitter Sunday.

“Condemn the TTP suicide attack on FC checkpost, Mastung road, Quetta. My condolences go to the families of the martyrs & prayers for the recovery of the injured. Salute our security forces & their sacrifices to keep us safe by thwarting foreign-backed terrorists’ designs,” the tweet read.

TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud appeared buoyed by the Afghan Taliban gains in an exclusive interview with CNN six weeks ago. As the Taliban closed in on Kabul, Mehsud suggested “the victory of one Muslim was surely helpful to another Muslim.”

He vowed to take control of Pakistan’s tribal border region, hinting it would be easier with US forces gone and the Afghan Taliban in charge in Kabul. US drone strikes killed three of his predecessors.

The number of TTP attacks In August was more than double last year’s monthly average, according to figures published by the group.

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Journalist Asim Khan reported from Quetta with Sophia Saifi in Islamabad. CNN’s Nic Robertson contributed reporting to this story.