Bomb blast kills two Pakistani soldiers

Two Pakistani soldiers were killed on Saturday in a blast that was targeting Shiite pilgrims heading to Iran.

"Five coaches carrying (Shiite) pilgrims and heading for Taftan border to cross into Iran were apparently the target of the blast," Shafqat Shalwani, assistant commissioner of the southwestern district of Mastung, told Anadolu Agency.

Taftan is a bordering town, some 350 km away from Quetta on Pakistani-Iranian borders that also serves as a crossing point into either country.

"The bomb was planted in a car parked in the way of the pilgrims' convoy," he said.

As security personnel began to check the car, the bomb went off, killing two soldiers.

Mastund has had a history of attacks on Shiite pilgrims during the past few years.

Some 19 Shiites were killed in a blast almost at the same place in March.

Pilgrims belonged to the Hazara community, which are mainly Shiites and have been target of sectarian violence in Quetta and Baluchistan Province in past years.

Originally hailing from Northern Afghanistan and settled in Baluchistan, Hazaras can easily be distinguished because of their Mongol features.

Source http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=121529