Bomb kills three, including senior police official, in restive southwestern Pakistan

Baluchistan was rocked by a series of attacks late last year that claimed over 180 lives and raised concerns about a growing militant presence, including fighters affiliated with Islamic State, which has claimed several bombings in the province.

The violence has raised concerns about security for projects in the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a planned transport and energy link from western China to Pakistan’s southern deep-water port of Gwadar.

“Three individuals have embraced martyrdom including (Additional Inspector General) Hamid Shakeel and his driver,” provincial government spokesman Anwar Ul Haq Kakar told Reuters.

Shakil was on his way to work in the provincial capital, Quetta, when the bomb exploded, targeting his vehicle, Baluchistan police Inspector General Moazzam Jah told Reuters.

Three police officials were seriously wounded, he added.