August 2016 Quetta attacks

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = August 2016 Quetta attacks

| partof = the War in North-West Pakistan

| image = File:Balochistan in Pakistan (claims hatched).svg

| caption = Location of Balochistan in Pakistan

| location = Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

| target =

| coordinates =

| date = 8 August 2016

| time =

| timezone =

| type = Suicide bombing, Shooting

| fatalities = 70 to 94+{{cite news|title=Quetta blast: Another victim dies, death toll rises to 74|url=http://arynews.tv/en/quetta-blast-another-victim-dies-death-toll-rises-to-74/|access-date=16 August 2016|publisher=ARYnews}}{{cite news|title=Death toll in Quetta civil hospital blast soars to 74|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/348993-Death-toll-in-Quetta-civil-hospital-blast-soars-to|access-date=16 August 2016|publisher=dunyanews|date=13 August 2016}}

| injuries = 120+

| numparts =

| perps = * Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan{{cite news|title=70 dead as blast hits Quetta Civil Hospital after lawyer's killing|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1276183/70-dead-as-blast-hits-quetta-civil-hospital-after-lawyers-killing|access-date=8 August 2016|publisher=Dawn|date=8 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/348886-Taliban-faction-had-assistance-of-NDS-in-Quetta-bl|title=Taliban faction had assistance of NDS in Quetta blast: Sartaj Aziz - Pakistan - Dunya News|date=14 February 2008 |access-date=12 August 2016}} (claimed responsibility)

Islamic State (claimed responsibility)

| weapons= Explosives, Automatic Rifle

| motive =

}}

On 8 August 2016, terrorists attacked the Government Hospital of Quetta in Pakistan with a suicide bombing and shooting.{{cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/348993-Death-toll-in-Quetta-civil-hospital-blast-soars-to|title=Death toll in Quetta civil hospital blast soars to 74 - Pakistan - Dunya News|date=14 February 2008 |access-date=2016-08-14}}{{cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/quetta-blast-another-victim-dies-death-toll-rises-to-74/|title=Quetta blast: Another victim dies, death toll rises to 74 {{!}} ARY NEWS|website=arynews.tv|date=13 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-14}} They killed more than 70 people, mainly lawyers, and injured more than 130 others.{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/08/93-mourners-dead-after-bomb-explodes-at-hospital-in-pakistan-6054485/ |title=93 mourners dead after bomb explodes at hospital in Pakistan |last1=Mann |first1=Tanveer |date=8 August 2016 |website=metro.co.uk |access-date=10 August 2016 }} The fatalities were mainly advocates (lawyers) who had assembled at the hospital where the body of Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi, the president of the Balochistan Bar Association, was brought after he was shot dead by an unknown gunman.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/55-killed-over-100-injured-in-blast-at-hospital-in-Pakistans-Quetta/articleshow/53596823.cms|title=55 killed, over 100 injured in blast at hospital in Pakistan's Quetta|work=The Times of India|date=8 August 2016|access-date=10 August 2016}} Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by various Islamist groups like Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and the Islamic State. Between 70{{Cite web |url=http://www.brecorder.com/editorials/0:/73678:the-quetta-massacre/?date=2016-08-10 |title=The Quetta massacre |website=Business Recorder |access-date=2016-08-16| archive-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922154851/http://www.brecorder.com/editorials/0:/73678:the-quetta-massacre/?date=2016-08-10 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-pakistani-lawyers-go-on-strike-after-dozens-killed-in-attack-2016-8|title=Pakistani lawyers go on strike after dozens killed in attack|website=Business Insider |access-date=2016-08-16|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821223115/http://www.businessinsider.com/r-pakistani-lawyers-go-on-strike-after-dozens-killed-in-attack-2016-8|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/quetta-blast-another-victim-dies-death-toll-rises-to-74/|title=Quetta blast: Another victim dies, death toll rises to 74 {{!}} ARY NEWS|website=arynews.tv|date=13 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/348993-Death-toll-in-Quetta-civil-hospital-blast-soars-to|title=Death toll in Quetta civil hospital blast soars to 74 - Pakistan - Dunya News|date=14 February 2008 |access-date=2016-08-16}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37007661|title=Pakistan hospital bomb attack kills dozens in Quetta - BBC News|work=BBC News |date=8 August 2016 |language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/08/asia/pakistan-hospital-blast/index.html|title=Pakistan Taliban splinter group claims Quetta attack|author=Sheena McKenzie|website=CNN|date=8 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-16}} and 94 people were killed and over 120 injured.{{cite web|last=Dua |first=Ruchi |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/quetta-bomb-explosion-civil-hospital-balochistan/1/734741.html |title=93 killed, over 120 injured in bomb attack at hospital in Pakistan's Quetta |website=Indiatoday.in |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=15 August 2016}}{{cite web|last=Mann |first=Tanveer |url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/08/93-mourners-dead-after-bomb-explodes-at-hospital-in-pakistan-6054485/ |title=93 mourners dead after bomb explodes at hospital in Pakistan |work=Metro News |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=15 August 2016}} 54 of those killed were lawyers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1279899/a-fraternity-in-mourning|title=A fraternity in mourning|last=Zulfiqar|first=Shahzada|date=2016-08-26|access-date=2016-08-26}}

On 6 December 2016, the mastermind of the attack, Jehangir Badini, was killed in Pishin during an operation by security forces.{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1300646/mastermind-of-quetta-civil-hospital-carnage-killed-says-sarfraz-bugti|title=Mastermind of Quetta Civil Hospital carnage killed, says Sarfraz Bugti|work=Dawn|date=5 December 2016|access-date=6 December 2016|first=Syed Ali|last=Shah}}

Incident

Image:August 2016 Quetta attacks 1.jpg

Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi, 46,{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1279894|title=54 voices: What we lost in the Quetta carnage|last=Dawn.com|date=2016-08-26|access-date=2016-08-26}} the president of the Balochistan Bar Association, was attacked on the morning of 8 August near Mengal Chowk on Manno Jan Road while leaving his home for his office. His dead body was brought to the Government Hospital for autopsy and many advocates assembled there. A suspected suicide bombing took place inside the hospital, which was followed by gunfire resulting in fatalities and injuries.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1157855/explosion-firing-heard-near-civil-hospital-quetta/|title=63 killed in blast at Quetta's civil hospital after lawyer's killing|work=The Express Tribune|date=8 August 2016|access-date=8 August 2016|first1=Zafar|last1=Baloch|first2=Hasnaat|last2=Malik|first3=Sardar|last3=Sikandar}}

Police and Frontier Corps took over the area after the attack and an emergency was declared in the hospitals of Quetta.{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pak-hospital-blast/article8959074.ece | title=40 killed, 50 injured in Pakistan hospital explosion |place=Karachi | work=The Hindu | date=8 August 2016 | access-date=8 August 2016 }} Mobile phone jammers were activated in the hospital area. The Bomb Disposal Squad reported that 8 to 9 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack.{{cite web|url= http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/348229-Suicide-blast-targeting-lawyers-media-men-at-Quet|title= Lawyers, media persons among 70 killed in Quetta hospital blast | publisher=Dunya News |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016}} Two journalists, one from Aaj News and the other from Dawn News, died in the Quetta Civil Hospital attack while working.{{cite web| url= https://www.geo.tv/latest/110974-Aaj-News-journalist-Shahzad-killed-in-Quetta-attack |title= Two journalists killed in Quetta attack | publisher=Geo tv |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016}}

=Perpetrators=

Both the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) have claimed responsibility for the attack. Initially, Islamic State claimed the responsibility for the attack stating that “A martyr from the Islamic State detonated his explosive belt at a gathering of justice ministry employees and Pakistani policemen in the city of Quetta.”.{{cite news |title=Quetta in a daze after massacre|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1276340/quetta-in-a-daze-after-massacre|access-date=9 August 2016|publisher=Dawn|date=9 August 2016|ref=dawn}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/taliban-isis-both-claim-quetta-pakistan-hospital-suicide-bombing-488653|title=Taliban and ISIS both claim Quetta hospital suicide bombing|website=Newsweek |date=9 August 2016|access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite news|title=RAW-backed LeJ, TTP may have attacked Quetta|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/141220-RAW-backed-LeJ-TTP-may-have-attacked-Quetta|access-date=9 August 2016|work=www.thenews.com.pk|publisher=The News Int|ref=thenews}}

However, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Pakistani militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, also claimed credit for the attack on advocate Kasi and the hospital.{{cite news|author=Aamir Iqbal | url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/suicide-bomber-targets-pakistans-lawyers-kills-at-least-53/2016/08/08/cce19344-5d4d-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html |title= Suicide blast claimed by Taliban faction in Pakistan claims at least 64 lives | newspaper=The Washington Post |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016}}{{cite web|author=Syed Ali Shah| url= http://www.dawn.com/news/1276183|title=70 dead as blast hits Quetta Civil Hospital after lawyer's killing | publisher=Dawn News |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=8 August 2016}} The group threatened that more attacks would take place "until the imposition of an Islamic system in Pakistan".{{cite web | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/balochistan-bomb-blast-in-civil-hospital-in-quetta-15-dead-2961150/ | title=Pakistani Taliban faction claims responsibility for Quetta hospital bomb blast that killed 75 | work=Indian Express | date=8 August 2016 | access-date=9 August 2016}}

ISPR quoted Army Chief Raheel Sharif as saying that the attack was targeting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1276207/gen-raheel-orders-intelligence-agencies-to-initiate-special-operations|title=Gen Raheel orders intelligence agencies to initiate special operations|last=Dawn.com|date=8 August 2016|access-date=8 August 2016}}

Reactions

= Domestic =

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the attack and expressed their grief over the loss. The government announced three-day mourning in which the National Flag of Pakistan will remain at half staff on government buildings.

Consequent to the attack, a scheduled meeting was held to review the implementation of the National Action Plan and it was decided that a task force consisting of senior officials from the security agencies of both the federal and provincial governments, will be established to monitor the progress.

Several politicians, including Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, former president Pervez Musharraf, National Security adviser Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria accused the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan's intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) of orchestrating the attack. The accusations reiterated past Pakistani claims of Indian involvement in Balochistan.{{cite news|last1=Ali Shah|first1=Syed|title=70 dead as blast hits Quetta Civil Hospital after lawyer's killing|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1276183/30-dead-as-blast-hits-quetta-civil-hospital-after-lawyers-killing|work=Dawn.com|date=9 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://nation.com.pk/national/09-Aug-2016/catastrophe-in-quetta |title=Catastrophe in Quetta |website=Nation.com.pk |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=9 August 2016}}{{cite news|title=RAW behind terrorist attacks in Balochistan: CM Zehri|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/110972-RAW-behind-terrorist-attacks-in-Balochistan-CM-Zehri|access-date=8 August 2016|work=www.geo.tv|publisher=Geo}}{{cite news|title=Indian "RAW" involved in Quetta bombing: Balochistan CM {{!}} SAMAA TV|url=http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2016/08/indian-raw-involved-in-quetta-bombing-balochistan-cm/|access-date=8 August 2016|work=samaa.com|publisher=Samaa}}{{cite web|url=https://arynews.tv/en/raw-hand-cant-be-ruled-out-in-quetta-blast-musharraf/|title=RAW hand can't be ruled out in Quetta attack: Musharraf|work=ARY News|date=8 August 2016|access-date=9 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1160645/quetta-carnage-islamabad-hints-raws-involvement/|title=Islamabad hints at RAW's involvement in Quetta carnage - The Express Tribune|date=12 August 2016|language=en-US|access-date=12 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1277152/pakistan-will-invite-india-to-discuss-violence-in-kashmir-says-aziz|title=Pakistan will invite India to discuss violence in Kashmir, says Aziz|last=Abbas|first=Syed Sammer|date=12 August 2016|access-date=12 August 2016}} Pakistan's military establishment said that the threat to internal security was morphing due to a nexus between hostile foreign intelligence agencies and local militant groups.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1277031/anti-terror-fight-to-focus-on-foreign-agencies|title=Anti-terror fight to focus on foreign agencies|last=Syed|first=Baqir Sajjad|date=12 August 2016|access-date=12 August 2016}}

However, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Muhammad Khan Sherani and Leader of opposition in Pakistani Senate, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan alleged that the government was trying to save itself from any responsibility by blaming foreign agencies and contending that it was a failure of Pakistani Intelligence Agencies demanded sacking of officials if perpetrators are not caught.{{cite web|url=https://timesofislamabad.com/quetta-attack-was-an-intelligence-failure-of-our-agencies-achakzai/2016/08/09/|title=Quetta attack was an intelligence failure of our agencies: Achakzai|date=9 August 2016 |access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1276449|title=PM should sack officers of intelligence agencies if they fail to trace Quetta attack perpetrators: Achakzai|last=Khan|first=Raza|date=9 August 2016|access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/08/09/national/aitzaz-terms-quetta-attack-intelligence-failure-says-nap-not-being-implemented/|title=Aitzaz terms Quetta attack intelligence failure, says NAP not being implemented|access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://pakobserver.net/2016/08/12/interior-ministry-must-ashamed-on-its-failure/|title=Interior Ministry must ashamed on its failure|last=Webmaster|date=11 August 2016|website=Pakistan Observer|access-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812111052/http://pakobserver.net/2016/08/12/interior-ministry-must-ashamed-on-its-failure/|archive-date=12 August 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1277044/ppp-terms-quetta-carnage-failure-of-interior-ministry-agencies|title=PPP terms Quetta carnage failure of interior ministry, agencies |date=12 August 2016|access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/141221-An-intelligence-failure-by-all-accounts|title=An intelligence failure by all accounts|website=www.thenews.com.pk|access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/achakzai-calls-quetta-blast-an-intelligence-failure/|title=Achakzai calls Quetta blast an intelligence failure {{!}} ARY NEWS|website=arynews.tv|date=9 August 2016 |access-date=13 August 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://pk.shafaqna.com/EN/33519|title=An intelligence failure: Why not to blame sacred cows for Quetta massacre?|website=pk.shafaqna.com|access-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828024449/http://pk.shafaqna.com/EN/33519|archive-date=28 August 2016|url-status=dead}}

The provincial government announced a compensation of Rs 10 million for the deceased person's family and Rs 5 million for seriously injured. Medical expenses and associated charges of those admitted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Quetta and Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi will be compensated by Government. According to the victim's Government is not doing enough for their care. Punjab chief minister, Shahbaz Sharif, gave Rs 0.5 Million to the deceased and Rs 250,000 to the injured. Education Fund was established by Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri for the children of the victims.

= International =

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,{{cite web| url= https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54641#.V6i9F_skrcs| title= Pakistan: Ban condemns 'appalling' terrorist attack at hospital in Quetta| publisher=UN News Center| date=8 August 2016 | access-date=8 August 2016}}{{cite web|author=Ayaz Gul | url= https://www.voanews.com/a/hospital-bombing-quetta/3455236.html | title= Suicide Blast At Pakistani Hospital Kills Dozens| publisher=The Voice of America | date=8 August 2016 | access-date=8 August 2016}} United States White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest{{cite web|title=The Latest: White House Condemns Quetta Hospital Bombing|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-30-killed-bombing-pakistani-city-quetta-41197270|work=ABC News|date=8 August 2016|access-date=9 August 2016}} Afghan President Ashraf Ghani{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1160434/afghan-president-telephones-pm-nawaz-conveys-condolence-quetta-tragedy/|title=Afghan president telephones PM Nawaz, conveys condolence on Quetta tragedy - The Express Tribune|date=11 August 2016|language=en-US|access-date=11 August 2016}} and French President François Hollande all condemned the attack.{{cite web|title=France condemns Quetta attack, expresses solidarity|url=http://www.samaa.tv/pakistan/2016/08/france-condemns-quetta-attack-expresses-solidarity/|publisher=Samaa TV|date=8 August 2016|access-date=9 August 2016}} The Pakistan and England cricket teams observed a minute of silence before the start of their fourth test match. Both teams wore black armbands in solidarity with the victims.{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1276893/pakistan-england-observe-minute-of-silence-for-quetta-blast-victims|title=Pakistan, England observe minute of silence for Quetta blast victims|last=Sport|first=Dawn|date=11 August 2016|access-date=11 August 2016}}

Social networking website Facebook activated its Safety Check feature enabling people to mark themselves as safe.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37007661 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808164646/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37007661 |archive-date=8 August 2016 |title=Pakistan hospital bomb attack kills dozens in Quetta | work=BBC News | date=8 August 2016 | access-date=8 August 2016}}