Gunmen Kill Nine After Abducting Passengers in Balochistan, Pakistan

Armed assailants in southwestern Pakistan abducted and murdered nine people after stopping two passenger buses on a highway late Thursday night, officials confirmed on Friday. The brazen attack took place in the districts of Zhob and Loralai in Balochistan province, as the buses were traveling from the provincial capital Quetta to Punjab.

The attackers fled the scene following the assault, and authorities have launched a search operation to apprehend those responsible. The bodies of the victims were recovered along the highway, district administrator Saadat Husain said, as investigations continue.

An official from Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan district, Ashfaq Chaudhry, noted that the attackers appeared to specifically target passengers from Punjab, raising concerns over the nature of the assault.

No group has claimed responsibility for the killings and abductions, but Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the violence, blaming the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). In a statement, Zardari described the attack as an attempt to “spread chaos and instability in Pakistan,” adding that the BLA was responsible for previous similar incidents, including the death of 23 passengers in a previous attack last year.

The BLA, which has been engaged in a long-running insurgency against the Pakistani government, primarily demands independence for Balochistan. The group has carried out numerous attacks mainly targeting security forces and travelers from Punjab, who frequently visit Balochistan for business or employment.

While Pakistani authorities claim to have quelled much of the insurgency, violence in Balochistan remains persistent. The region continues to be plagued by militant activity, with various separatist groups seeking independence.

Pakistan routinely accuses India of backing militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch insurgents, allegations strongly denied by India but contributing to regional tensions. The recent attack underscores ongoing instability and security challenges in Balochistan’s volatile landscape.