Pakistan: Deadly clashes in Quetta May 27

Event

On Sunday, May 27, two police officers and two gunmen were killed in clashes at the Capri Cinema of Quetta (Bolochistan province). According to authorities, the two individuals opened fire at police on Sirki Road before being shot by other officers. A third individual is reportedly on the run. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Context

Quetta district, located in north-central Pakistan, has been plagued by violence in recent months and years, due in large part to its placement along a prominent arms smuggling route. Car bombs, suicide bombings, and armed attacks - perpetrated by various Baloch insurgent groups as well as a number of terrorist groups - are common and often target local security forces as well as lawyers.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qai'da, Islamic State (IS) affiliates, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Afghan Taliban, and other Islamist militant groups continue to pose a threat throughout the country despite continued army offensives to push them from their northwestern strongholds near the Afghan border. Pakistan has suffered a number of deadly attacks in recent months, notably in Lahore, Quetta, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Advice

Individuals present in Quetta are advised to remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities.

Due to a high threat from terrorism, as well as kidnapping and sectarian violence throughout Pakistan, some Western governments advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the country as foreign nationals, and in particular Westerners, may be directly targeted.