Quetta was in mourning on Wednesday two days after an attack on a police academy located on the outskirts of the city.
At least 62 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when masked gunmen stormed the college late on Monday. Some cadets were taken hostage during the raid, which lasted nearly five hours. Most of the dead were cadets.
Flags are flying at half mast across Pakistan. In Quetta, the normally-bustling streets were quiet and shop shutters closed on Wednesday, as residents went on strike in protest against the attack.
“We are with the grieving families. We oppose all types of terrorism,” said Azhar Tariq, the senior vice president of the Union of Traders Baluchistan, as he called on the government and security forces to provide more protection.
Militant group Islamic State said on Tuesday that fighters loyal to its movement were responsible for the attack. Pakistani authorities have blamed another militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
Many Pakistanis, however, view the country’s arch-rival India as responsible for wide-spread violence in the country.
“Other countries, and particularly India want to create unrest in our country. Our security forces are trying to do their work but foreign agencies are interfering in our affairs. We strongly condemn this,” said one man in Quetta, Yaseen Mengal.
