More than 70 people have died in a series of terror attacks in Balochistan, southwestern Pakistan. Reports from military and police sources confirm the high death toll.
The Pakistani military reported that 14 soldiers and police officers were killed in a major attack on vehicles along a highway in Bela, Lasbela district. The fighting also resulted in the deaths of 21 terrorists.
In a separate attack in Musakhel district, at least 23 civilians were killed. Attackers stopped a convoy, checked IDs, and targeted those from Punjab. They also set 35 vehicles on fire.
Another attack occurred in Kalat, where ten people were killed. This included five police officers and five civilians. The attackers targeted a police post and a highway.
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On Monday, rail traffic between Quetta and other parts of Pakistan was halted. This followed explosions on a rail bridge in Bolan and a rail link to Iran. Railways official Muhammad Kashif confirmed the disruptions. Police have found six unidentified bodies near the rail bridge attack site.
Balochistan has faced ongoing rebellion, with multiple armed groups operating in the region. Rights groups have criticized Pakistan’s response, which includes enforced disappearances and state repression.
The recent attacks targeted highways connecting Balochistan to Punjab. They followed a warning from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) advising people to avoid highways in the province. The BLA claimed responsibility, saying its fighters targeted military personnel disguised as civilians. However, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry stated that the victims were innocent civilians.
The injured have been transported to a hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan, the nearest major medical facility.
In response, President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Musakhel attack as “barbaric.” They vowed that the perpetrators would face justice. Uzma Bukhari, spokesperson for the Punjab provincial government, described the attacks as “a matter of grave concern” and urged the Balochistan government to intensify efforts against BLA terrorists.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also pledged to bring the attackers to justice. Local media reported that security forces have killed 12 rebel fighters in the province over the past 24 hours.
Similar attacks by the BLA have occurred in the past, such as the killing of seven barbers in Gwadar in May and the April abduction of people from a highway. The BLA and other armed groups in Balochistan often target laborers from Punjab due to their secessionist aims.