At least two policemen were killed and five others injured today in an explosion outside the Balochistan University in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan's southwestern province.

"The attack targeted a police check-post outside the university gate set up for security purposes. Two policemen were killed while five persons, including three policemen, injured," Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said.

He said the bomb disposal squad was at the scene to find out what caused the explosion.

"The injured were shifted to the hospital," he added.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its special unit targeted the police through IED.

Militants belonging to banned extremist outfits and separatist groups regularly carry out subversive activities against security personnel and installations in the troubled Balochistan province.

The province rich in natural resources has been plagued by an insurgency and growing sectarian killings for more than a decade.

On May 3, five Rapid Response Group police personnel, including an officer, were injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Eastern Bypass area of Quetta.

In February, 10 people, including four security personnel, a woman and child were killed and 23 others injured in a suicide attack in Quetta.