Pakistani troops foil suicide attack on convoy in southwest

QUETTA, Pakistan – A Pakistani official says security forces have shot and killed a would-be suicide bomber after he opened fire on a security convoy on the outskirts of the southwestern city of Quetta.

Local police official Abdul Hakim says Thursday's attack on paramilitary forces was foiled because of alertness of troops.

The incident took place amid preparations for Pakistan's National Day parade when the country's armed forces show off short- and long-range missiles, tanks, jets, drones and other military hardware at a stadium in the capital, Islamabad.

Quetta is the capital of Baluchistan province, the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch separatist groups that demand a greater share of the province's resources.