Deadly Attacks in Baluchistan Leave 38 Dead Amid Surge in Insurgent Violence

In a day marked by intense violence in southwestern Pakistan, at least 38 people were killed in multiple attacks across Baluchistan province. The deadliest incident occurred in Musakhail, where 23 people were pulled from vehicles and shot dead before their attackers set fire to at least 10 vehicles.

This was followed by another attack in Qalat district that left nine people dead, including four police officers and five civilians. Meanwhile, in Bolan, the bodies of six more victims were found, and insurgents damaged a railway track and launched attacks in other districts, including Gwadar and Mastung.

The military confirmed that 14 security forces were also killed in the course of responding to the attacks, bringing the overall death toll to 38. A statement from the military described ongoing operations to target and apprehend those responsible for the violence, pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice.

These attacks are part of a broader and long-running insurgency in Baluchistan, where separatist groups, particularly the Baluch Liberation Army (BLA), have been fighting for independence from the central government.

The BLA had earlier issued warnings to avoid highways as they launched attacks on security forces, but no group immediately claimed responsibility for these latest killings. The BLA, which has a history of carrying out such attacks, later claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on security forces.

The group has been known to target non-Baluch individuals, particularly those from the Punjab province, as part of their broader strategy to economically destabilize Baluchistan and Pakistan.

Reactions to the attacks were swift, with provincial and national leaders condemning the violence. Baluchistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed to intensify operations against the insurgents, while the President, Prime Minister, and Interior Minister of Pakistan all condemned the attacks and promised that justice would be served.

The killings have raised concerns about the continuing instability in Baluchistan, despite government claims of having suppressed the insurgency.

On the same day, a separate attack occurred in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where a roadside bomb killed four people and injured 12 others.

This attack, attributed to the Pakistani Taliban, highlights the broader security challenges facing Pakistan, with insurgent groups like the BLA and Pakistani Taliban continuing to pose significant threats in different regions of the country. These groups are often connected, sharing similar objectives and tactics, further complicating efforts to restore peace and stability.