At least 31 killed in deadly attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan

Tragedy struck Pakistan's Balochistan province as at least 31 people lost their lives in two separate attacks by gunmen, highlighting the ongoing violence in the region. In the first incident, gunmen blocked the inter-provincial highway in Musakhel's Rarasham district and forced passengers off several buses.

After checking their identities, the assailants shot and killed 23 people, most of whom were from the Punjab province. Assistant Commissioner Musakhail Najeeb Kakar confirmed the attack, stating that vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were targeted.

The brutality didn't stop there. In a separate incident in the Qalat district, nine more people, including four police officers and five passersby, were killed by gunmen. These attacks were part of a series of violent acts in the region, with insurgents also blowing up a railway track in Bolan, attacking a police station in Mastung, and burning vehicles in Gwadar. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these additional attacks.

The militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the killings in an emailed statement, warning of further violence, including an attack on a major paramilitary base. Pakistani authorities have yet to officially confirm this claim.