In a chilling reminder of the ongoing unrest in Pakistan’s restive southwest, armed men kidnapped and killed nine bus passengers in Balochistan province on Thursday night, sparking fresh outrage and highlighting the fragile security situation in the region, reported India Today. The brazen act occurred along the National Highway connecting Quetta to Dera Ismail Khan, where gunmen intercepted two buses, forcibly removed passengers after verifying their identities, and executed them in cold blood.
The incident in Balochistan province is the latest in a series of targeted attacks that have plagued the mineral-rich but violence-ridden region. According to law enforcement officials, the attackers stopped the vehicles at gunpoint, lined up the passengers, and abducted those who appeared to be from Punjab based on their national identity cards. Their bullet-riddled bodies were found later, dumped near the rugged hilly terrain.
Deadly Patterns Emerge
This brutal episode is not isolated. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most volatile province, has seen a sharp uptick in targeted violence, especially against settlers from Punjab and security personnel. The region is home to multiple insurgent groups, with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) being one of the most active. Though no group has claimed responsibility so far, officials suspect a Baloch separatist group was behind the attack. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the killings, vowing “swift justice,” and pointed fingers at the BLA, accusing them of spreading anarchy.
However, in a twist, the BLA issued a statement claiming they had launched a simultaneous attack on a military camp elsewhere in Balochistan on the same night and were not involved in the bus incident, raising questions over the exact perpetrators.
Victims from Punjab Targeted
The victims, all hailing from Punjab, were likely targeted as part of an ethno-political agenda that has defined many past attacks in Balochistan. According to police reports, the armed assailants meticulously checked ID cards to filter out passengers from other provinces. This pattern echoes past incidents where Punjabi settlers, workers, and travelers have borne the brunt of Baloch nationalist fury.
Local officials confirmed that rescue teams recovered the bodies and shifted them to a nearby hospital for identification and autopsy. A manhunt is currently underway, with checkpoints set up along the highway and paramilitary troops deployed to comb the region.
Balochistan’s Boiling Pot
The Balochistan insurgency has raged for decades, driven by a sense of economic and political marginalization. While the province is rich in natural resources like gas, coal, and copper, locals claim they’ve seen little benefit. The Pakistan government has long accused India of fomenting unrest in the region, an allegation New Delhi denies. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through Balochistan, has added a new layer of strategic and security complexity.
According to human rights groups, both militants and state forces have committed abuses, turning the region into a conflict zone marked by disappearances, military crackdowns, and civilian casualties.
A History of Highway Horror
Highways cutting through Balochistan have become hotspots for militant activity. In similar past attacks, buses have been stopped, passengers pulled out, and then executed. In 2023, at least 23 passengers were similarly killed in Nushki district. Thursday’s massacre adds to a grim timeline of violence, further eroding public trust in security measures.
Authorities are now urging transporters to avoid night travel in the area and have assured heightened patrols. However, with no confirmed group claiming responsibility, the sense of fear and helplessness remains palpable.
International Concern
The attack has drawn condemnation from rights activists and neighboring countries alike. Calls for a transparent investigation and long-term peace-building measures have resurfaced. But observers remain skeptical, noting that similar calls have followed past incidents with little follow-up.
What Lies Beneath
The kidnapping and killing of nine bus passengers in Pakistan’s Balochistan province underscores the deep-rooted instability plaguing the region. As families mourn their dead and authorities hunt for suspects, the bigger question remains: when will this cycle of violence end? Until systemic issues of marginalization, identity-based violence, and political neglect are addressed, such tragedies may sadly continue to stain Pakistan’s highways with blood.
Photo Credit: The Hindu
Follow us for latest updates:
