Gunmen in Pakistan abducted nine people from a bus and later killed them in Baluchistan province, where the separatist group Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. The gunmen allegedly targeted people they believed to be intelligence officers and offered no evidence to support their claim. The victims were from Punjab, and some were suspected of being human smugglers. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and vowed to punish the perpetrators.
The abductions took place after the gunmen had earlier killed two people and wounded six in another car that they forced to stop. The same attackers set up a blockade on the highway and targeted passengers based on their provincial identity. Witnesses on the bus reported that the gunmen singled out people from Punjab and accused them of harming their children. The passengers heard gunfire as the gunmen took the victims away, and the bodies were later found under a bridge.
The incident highlights the ongoing violence and unrest in Baluchistan despite the government’s efforts to quell the insurgency in the region. Abductions are rare in Baluchistan, where militants typically target security forces or infrastructure. The attack on the bus is a grim reminder of the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining security and containing militancy in various parts of Pakistan. The army also reported the killing of two soldiers in a gunfight with militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The violence in Pakistan is not limited to Baluchistan, as militants continue to pose a threat in other regions as well. The army announced the killing of a Pakistani Taliban commander who was involved in various illegal activities against security forces and civilians. The Pakistani Taliban spokesperson paid tribute to the slain commander, underscoring the ongoing conflict and the complex security situation in the country. The government faces the daunting task of addressing and combating militancy to ensure peace and stability for its citizens.
