In Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, over 70 people were slaughtered in a brutal 24-hour spree of violence along the highways.
At a Glance
- Gunmen killed at least 31 people in two separate attacks in Baluchistan, Pakistan.
- Security forces killed 12 insurgents in response to the attacks.
- The attacks resulted in the burning of 10 vehicles and the death of 23 people from buses, vehicles, and trucks.
- Insurgents were reported to have blown up a railway track in Bolan and attacked multiple locations without additional casualties.
Over 70 Dead: A Harrowing Day on Pakistan’s Highways
Pakistani citizens faced an unthinkable tragedy as gunmen embarked on a horrifying 24-hour killing spree along the highways in Baluchistan. The attacks claimed over 70 lives, including at least 31 in two major incidents. This heart-wrenching violence not only underscores the urgent need for robust security measures but also shines a light on the persistent dangers posed by extremism in the region.
The initial attacks were launched in Musakhail district, where gunmen took 23 lives by forcefully removing individuals from buses, vehicles, and trucks before setting ten vehicles ablaze. In a parallel atrocity in Qalat district, nine people were killed, including four police officers and five civilians. These events epitomize the ruthless nature of the attackers and the profound dangers ordinary Pakistanis face daily.
Pakistan: Over 70 Dead As Gunmen Storm Highways, Execute Civilians In 24 Hours Of Terror https://t.co/sdbnrgepXa
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 27, 2024
A Zone of Constant Turmoil
Baluchistan has long been embroiled in an insurgency led by separatist groups demanding independence from the central government in Islamabad. Despite security forces swiftly killing 12 insurgents in retaliation, the fight to protect Baluchistan and its inhabitants is far from over. The Baluch Liberation Army (BLA), although not immediately claiming responsibility, had warned people to avoid highways before these devastating attacks.
The BLA and other insurgents often target non-Baluch people, notably those from the Punjab region, employing tactics that include checking ID cards and executing those from outside the province. This strategy aims not only at sowing terror but also at driving economic weakness to destabilize Baluchistan and, by extension, the whole of Pakistan.
At least 73 people have been killed in a series of attacks in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province. Pakistan's military says gunmen targeted police stations, civilians, railway lines, and highways. pic.twitter.com/vbjn3sUKEm
— CGTN Global Watch (@GlobalWatchCGTN) August 27, 2024
Government and International Response
The government of Pakistan has not remained silent. Punjab provincial government spokesperson Uzma Bukhari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued strong condemnations of the attacks. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other high-ranking officials have vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed ‘deep grief and condemnation over the terrorist attack’ in a statement issued Monday by his office.”
While such murderous attacks have occurred before, including the killing of seven barbers in Gwadar and nine individuals abducted from a bus in recent months, the scale and coordination of this most recent violence is shocking. Security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali emphasized these acts are designed to economically cripple Baluchistan, an area rich in untapped natural resources but facing incessant conflict and poverty.
