Soldiers guarding the mosque after the blast. AFP

A suicide bomber targeted a mosque in southwestern Pakistan during evening prayers Friday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 19 others, officials said.

The blast took place in a satellite town of Quetta, the province's main city. Debris and shattered glass littered the scene.

Fida Mohammad, who was attending evening prayers, said about 60 people were present at the time of the attack on the mosque, which is located in a densely populated area.

With the condition of some that were injured being critical, the death toll might increase, according to the hospital officials and the local police chief.

The mastermind behind the bombing is yet to be uncovered, however, the slain police officer was the likely target of the attack. The attack came just days after a roadside bomb in Quetta hit a paramilitary force vehicle, killing two troops.

Although militants in Pakistan  often carry out such attacks, Baluchistan province is also the scene of a low-level insurgency by separatists demanding more autonomy and a greater share in the region's natural resources such as gas and oil.

Pakistan’s government claims it has quelled the insurgency, but violence has continued.