In Pakistan's Balochistan, Gunmen Offload Passengers From Buses, Check Their IDs, Then Shoot 24 Dead

At least 24 people were killed in Pakistan’s Balochistan on Monday when armed men carried out a targeted attack, offloading passengers from buses, checking their identities, and then shooting them.

Two paramilitary soldiers were among the two dozen people killed, most of whom were from Punjab province. The attackers blocked the inter-provincial highway in Musakhel district, forced passengers off trucks and buses, and set fire to 10 vehicles.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the shootings. It claimed that those killed were military servicemen in civilian clothes who were “identified and subsequently killed by BLA fighters”.

‘Terrorist act’

Balochistan is the country’s largest but poorest province, despite an abundance of untapped natural resources. Baloch separatists have in recent years intensified attacks on Punjabis and Sinhdis from elsewhere in Pakistan working in the region, as well as foreign energy firms they believe are exploiting the region without sharing its riches.

Assistant Commissioner Najeeb Kakar confirmed to the Pakistani newspaper that the victims were from Punjab province and that emergency services were on the scene to transport the bodies to the hospital.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti condemned the attack as a “terrorist act.” He offered condolences to the victims’ families and vowed that the provincial government would pursue the terrorists and their accomplices to ensure they face justice.

‘Innocent passengers’

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their sorrow over the loss of life, calling the attackers “enemies of the nation.” The President emphasised that those responsible for the killings must face justice.

Pakistan federal minister Attaullah Tarar also strongly condemned the attack. “The terrorists showed brutality by targeting innocent passengers near Musakhail,” he was quoted as saying in a statement on X posted by PML-N. “The terrorists and their facilitators will not be able to escape an exemplary end,” he said.

The Musakhel attack comes nearly four months after a similar incident targeting people from Punjab, according to Dawn. In April, nine passengers were removed from a bus near Noshki and shot after gunmen checked their IDs.

According to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan experienced 380 fatalities and 220 injuries related to violence during the second quarter of the year. The casualties stemmed from 240 incidents, including terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations.

Last October, unidentified assailants killed six labourers from Punjab in Turbat, Balochistan’s Kech district. Police described the killings as targeted, noting that the victims were from various parts of southern Punjab, indicating a possible ethnic motive.