QUETTA, Oct 2: Two soldiers were killed and three others injured in a bomb attack on an army unit in the earthquake-affected area of Mashkay in Awaran district on Wednesday.

According to official sources, four other incidents of firing and rocket attacks were reported in the same area.

They said a Pakistan Army unit was carrying out relief work in Jhalwari area, south of Mashkay, when the powerful explosion took place.

“It was an improvised explosive device placed on the road and detonated by remote control,” an officer said.

Naib Sobedar Zahoor and Sepoy Bashrat died on the spot. The injured were taken to the Combined Military Hospital in Khuzdar.

Gunmen said to be militants also fired at a security post in Gishkore and in Parwar area, south of Mashkay town, when troops were distributing ration and other relief goods among the affected people.

Troops also came under attack at a place between Dhindar and Gishkore.

A rocket attack was reported from Nokjo area severely affected by Saturday’s earthquake. Official sources said the militants also fired rocket-propelled grenades on troops.

The sources said the attacks failed to force the troops to stop relief work.

Meanwhile, Allah Nazar, chief of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Front, claimed responsibility for the explosion in Jhalwari and threatened to step up attacks on security forces.

Talking to Reuters by telephone, he said: “They (army) are directly involved in the large-scale killings of Baloch men.

“They want to crush us and make money from the disaster relief.”

He said: “We claim responsibility for Wednesday morning’s attack on troops near Mashkay. We will step up such attacks in coming days.

“We cannot expect relief from the helicopters which routinely fire rockets at our villages.”

The army denied involvement in any killings.

“We are there to provide relief for the local people. We will continue the relief work for our Baloch brethren even if attacks continue,” Maj Gen Samrez Salik, who oversees the relief operation, said.