QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) -Islamist militants in an explosive-laden vehicle were thwarted in their attempt to overrun a Pakistani security post near the border with Afghanistan, the army said on Tuesday.

Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), once envisioned as a transformative project to enhance Pakistan's infrastructure and economy, is now mired in escalating economic and security challenges, as reported by The Guardian.

Authorities say militants have attacked a security post in southwest Pakistan that triggered an intense shootout in which two soldiers and five insurgents were killed.

Two soldiers were martyred and five terrorists were killed in a foiled attack on a security checkpost in Balochistan’s Qila Abdullah district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Tuesday.

A thwarted attack by Islamist militants near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border resulted in the death of five attackers, including two suicide bombers. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in Balochistan,

The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) and the Quetta Press Club jointly organized a protest on Tuesday against the Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, commonly known as the PECA Amendment Bill.

Police in Pakistan's Balochistan province announced that a powerful bomb explosion in the Khuzdar area destroyed a passenger bus, killing and wounding several people.

Pakistan Zindabad rally was held in Dalbandin, Balochistan aimed at expressing solidarity with Pakistan and its institutions. About three thousand people participated in the rally with great enthusiasm. The participants chanted slogans in support of Pakistan's armed forces, showcasing their patriotism and deep connection to the country.

Calling for a renewed alliance between the Baloch and Pashtun nations, Marri declared, "Our unity is the path to freedom. Together, we will break the chains of occupation and build a future rooted in justice, sovereignty, and peace." (ANI)

One person has been killed and eight injured when a roadside bomb hit a passenger bus in Balochistan province of Pakistan on Sunday. Khuzdar District Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti told the media the bus coming from Rawalpindi to Khuzdar was hit by the blast on the highway, some 25 kilometres from Khuzdar town.

Pakistani authorities say the country's largest airport, which was built and funded by Beijing, has become operational in the restive southwest province of Balochistan.

A new World Bank report reveals a significant increase in poverty in Pakistan, rising from 21.9% in 2018/19 to 25.3% in 2022/23, largely due to COVID-19, inflation, and climate disasters. However, projections indicate a potential decline to 18.