- Armed men killed at least 38 people in three separate attacks
- The violence has intensified in recent weeks
- The group warned people to avoid highways
Armed men have killed at least 38 people in three separate attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan.
The violence has intensified in recent weeks, raising concerns about security and stability in the region.
In a particularly gruesome incident, armed men stopped several buses and trucks on Sunday night in the remote area of Rarasham.
After checking passengers’ IDs, they shot 23 people and set 10 vehicles on fire before fleeing.
Elsewhere in the province, nine people, including four police officers and five passersby, were killed in Qalat district.
Additionally, six people were killed when a railway track was blown up in Bolan, a police station in Mastung was attacked, and several vehicles were burned in Gwadar city.
Balochistan has been plagued by a simmering rebellion for years, with various armed groups operating in the region.
Rights groups have accused the Pakistani government of using repressive tactics, including enforced disappearances, to quell the movement.
The recent attacks, which targeted civilians traveling on the highway connecting Balochistan to Punjab, came shortly after a warning from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The group warned people to avoid highways in the province, stating that they would target military personnel traveling in civilian clothes.
While the Pakistani Ministry of Interior claims that the victims were innocent citizens, the BLA’s statement suggests that the attacks were targeted at military personnel.
The violence has highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Balochistan and the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
