Musa Khel, Balochistan – In a devastating overnight assault in Balochistan province, south-west Pakistan, gunmen have killed at least 22 people, forcing them out of their vehicles and targeting individuals based on their identities. The attack occurred on a highway in the Musa Khel district, a region already plagued by sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence.
According to local officials, the armed assailants, identified as members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), stopped approximately 22 vehicles and checked the identities of passengers. Those from Punjab were reportedly singled out and shot, while the vehicles were set ablaze. The BLA, a militant separatist group, has claimed responsibility for the attacks, describing the act as a response against perceived occupation by the Pakistani military.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that security forces have engaged with the militants, killing 12 of them in subsequent operations. He did not provide additional details regarding the ongoing response. The BLA’s attacks have extended beyond Musa Khel, with simultaneous assaults reported on government installations across Balochistan, including police stations and military camps.
In Kalat, another district in Balochistan, the violence claimed 11 lives, including five security personnel. The BLA’s actions in the region have intensified, with militants targeting Punjabis and Sinhdis working in Balochistan, as well as foreign energy firms accused of exploiting local resources without equitable profit sharing.
Senior local official Najibullah Kakar reported that 30 to 40 militants were involved in the Musa Khel attacks. He stated, “Vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot.” The BLA had issued warnings to the Baloch public to avoid the highway prior to the attack, asserting their fight was against the Pakistani military’s presence in the region.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks, expressing “deep grief and condemnation” in a statement issued by his office. He described the incidents as part of a “well-thought-out plan to create anarchy” in Pakistan.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, remains the least developed despite its abundant resources. The BLA’s activities, alongside those of other separatist groups, have exacerbated tensions in the region. This recent attack follows a similar incident in April when nine passengers were killed in Balochistan after being forced off a bus and identified.
The BLA, along with other separatist factions, continues to be a significant security concern, with several Western countries, including the UK and US, designating the group as a global terrorist organization. The ongoing violence highlights the broader struggle for autonomy and resource control in one of Pakistan’s most volatile regions.