The Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) has taken responsibility for the bombing attack that has killed three people and injured 20 in Pakistan’s northern city of Lahore. The attack by Baloch insurgents came at a time when the government has been struggling to contain other militant groups like the TTP. 

The bomb, planted in a motorcycle, went off on Thursday afternoon in Lahore, damaging almost a dozen shops in the city’s busy Anarkali market, Dawn reported citing a senior Pakistan police official. 

“Our technical team is collecting evidence. We will reach a conclusion on the basis of their analysis," said Adib Khan, DIG Lahore Police. The bombing came days after militants belonging to the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) attacked a police station in capital Islamabad. 

Balochistan, a southwestern province, having the country’s most oil and gas reserves, remains restive for decades, with ethnic insurgents accusing the Pakistan state of exploiting their resources and population. Over half a dozen armed groups are currently waging war against the Pakistani government. 

Thursday attack in Lahore, far from their traditional stronghold in Balochistan, was claimed by the BNA, a group that was formed last week by the merger of two Baloch groups, the Baloch Republican Army (Gulzar Imam faction) and United Baloch Army (Sarfaraz Bangulzai faction). 

The newly formed group said they will be releasing a detailed statement soon. The group said that employees of Habib Bank, the largest bank in the country, were on their target, without elaborating reasons. 

Pakistan, which is already facing the brunt of an emboldened TTP, renewed attacks by Baloch insurgents in its main cities will further complicate its security environment. 

 (SAM)