Pakistan: At least 22 people have been killed in a brutal attack in southwest Pakistan after being forced out of their vehicles and having their identities checked, according to officials. The violent incident occurred on a highway in Balochistan province, a region grappling with ongoing sectarian, ethnic, and separatist unrest.
The attackers, reportedly 30 to 40 armed men, halted vehicles and checked identity documents, allegedly targeting individuals from Punjab for execution before setting the vehicles on fire. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attack in Musa Khel district.
Local official Najibullah Kakar stated that 22 vehicles were stopped, and individuals from Punjab were specifically singled out and shot.
The BLA, a group known for targeting Pakistani military personnel, claimed that they were focused on military personnel disguised in civilian clothes. They also warned the public to avoid the highway, stating their opposition was solely directed at the Pakistani military.
The attack drew widespread condemnation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressing deep sorrow and denouncing the violence.
Balochistan, the largest province in Pakistan, remains underdeveloped despite its wealth of natural resources. The BLA and other separatist groups have ramped up attacks in the region, targeting people from other provinces and accusing foreign companies of exploiting local resources without fair compensation to the local population.
This incident follows a similar attack earlier this year, where nine passengers were executed after being pulled from a bus and having their IDs checked.
The BLA has also intensified attacks on government installations across Balochistan, including police stations and security camps. Several Western nations have officially listed the BLA as a global terrorist organization.
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