- An explosion struck a major natural gas pipeline belonging to the Sui Southern Gas Company near Quetta, in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, on Monday.
- The attack, carried out by "unknown individuals", blew up a section of the 18-inch pipeline, disrupting gas supply to many parts of Quetta and upper Balochistan during cold weather conditions.
- Technical crews managed to shut the main valve and extinguish the fire, but repairs are pending clearance from law enforcement agencies and are expected to take between 12 and 24 hours.
- Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which is suspected to be a terrorist attack in a region known for a long history of separatist insurgency and militant violence.
- Baloch separatist groups, who accuse the central government of depriving locals of the province's resources, routinely attack government and military installations, with a similar attack on the same company's pipeline occurring in 2014.
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