A separatist group known as the Baluchistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in southwestern Pakistan that resulted in the deaths of over 40 individuals. The group, while acknowledging its involvement in the attacks, stated that it did not target civilians. The violence, which occurred over a span of two days, saw the deaths of 23 victims whose bodies were sent to their respective home districts for burial.
The Baluchistan Liberation Army, which is outlawed by the Pakistani government, issued a warning of further attacks, asserting that 800 of its fighters participated in the initial phase of the assaults. The group threatened that subsequent attacks would be more intense and widespread.
The attacks claimed the lives of 23 civilians and 14 security officials, marking the deadliest day of violence in the region in recent times. The incidents have elicited condemnation across the country, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ruling out peace talks with the insurgents responsible for the bloodshed.
The attacks in Baluchistan are believed to be aimed at disrupting Chinese-funded development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key initiative involving infrastructure development to connect China's Xinjiang region with Pakistan's Gwadar port. The BLA and other militant groups have previously targeted Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects.
Local authorities confirmed that among the victims were 14 individuals from Punjab province and nine Baluch individuals who were ambushed on a highway in Musakhail district. The bodies of the deceased were repatriated to their hometowns for funeral rites.
The government has pledged to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and their accomplices. The recent attacks indicate a heightened level of organization within the Baluchistan Liberation Army, which has historically engaged in sporadic assaults on security forces.
Efforts to combat the insurgents are ongoing, with the Chief Minister of Baluchistan emphasizing that those responsible for the violence will face the full brunt of the law. Baluchistan has been a hotspot for separatist activities in Pakistan, with various groups advocating for independence from the central government despite official claims of quelling the insurgency. Despite these assertions, violence continues to plague the region.
