Gunmen kill nine in targeted attack on passenger buses in Pakistan
- Gunmen in Balochistan carried out a targeted attack on passenger buses traveling from Quetta to Punjab, resulting in nine fatalities.
- Authorities recovered the bodies along the highway and launched a search for the attackers, who fled the scene.
- This incident highlights ongoing violence amid an insurgency in the region, raising concerns over security and targeted attacks against civilians.
In Balochistan, Pakistan, gunmen attacked two passenger buses on the highway on the night of July 10, 2025, resulting in the abduction and murder of nine individuals. The incident transpired during a journey from Quetta, the provincial capital, to Punjab province. According to Saadat Husain, the district administrator, the attackers managed to flee the scene, prompting a widespread search to locate them. Authorities have confirmed that the bodies of the victims were recovered alongside the highway. The assailants seemed to specifically target passengers hailing from Punjab, as indicated by Ashfaq Chaudhry, an administrator from Dera Ghazi Khan district in Punjab. This targeted nature of the attack suggests an underlying motive tied to regional tensions, indicating that the massacre was not merely random. Several factors contribute to the growing violence in the Pakistan region, including the ongoing insurgency attributed to various separatist and militant groups. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari publicly condemned the violent act, labeling it a brutal killing of innocent passengers. He attributed the assault to the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has been associated with various violent incidents in Balochistan. The BLA is known for its demand for greater independence for Balochistan from the Pakistani state. This region has experienced long-term conflict involving numerous separatist groups clashing with security forces, leading to heightened tensions between ethnic groups within Pakistan. The BLA, however, contested the President’s claims, asserting that their actions were focused on military targets rather than civilian ones. They declared their involvement in an attack against a military camp located far from the bus attack sites. This reflects a complex dynamics of insurgency in the region, with multiple factions competing for power. Violence in Balochistan has persisted despite claims from Pakistani authorities that they have managed to suppress the insurgency. Furthermore, the situation in Balochistan highlights the broader implications of regional instability and violence, raising concerns not only for security but also for civilian safety within Pakistan. As investigations continue, and tensions rise, these incidents magnify the urgent need for dialogue and resolution surrounding the long-standing grievances in Balochistan and the challenges posed by extremist groups.