Southwestern Pakistan Terrorized by Coordinated Attacks

Over 70 Dead in 24 Hours of Terror

Southwestern Pakistan was hit by a wave of terror attacks that left at least 70 dead in a 24-hour period starting Sunday night. The Baluch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The onslaught began with bombings and gunfire at a national military camp in Pakistan’s Baluchistan Province, resulting in at least one soldier's death.

Police Stations and Highways Attacked

Gunmen stormed four police stations in the same area, setting vehicles ablaze. By morning, a key bridge in the area was also attacked and destroyed. The situation worsened when militants attacked a major highway in a town called Bela. They reportedly intercepted traffic and executed people.

BLA Gunmen Target Specific Ethnic Groups

Multiple groups of BLA gunmen rampaged across the region, targeting other motorways seemingly at random. However, authorities suggest that in some cases, the attackers were targeting individuals of specific ethnic groups. Vehicles traveling to and from Punjab were inspected, and individuals from Punjab were identified and shot, according to a regional report.

Heavy Police and Military Response

Many of the reported dead are the militants themselves, due to a strong police and military response. The country’s military reported that 14 soldiers and police, as well as 21 militants, were killed in fighting after the largest of the attacks, which targeted vehicles on a major highway in Bela, a town in the Lasbela district. In another attack in the Musakhel district, local officials reported at least 23 civilians were killed after attackers determined they were from Punjab, with 35 vehicles set ablaze. In Kalat, 10 people were reported killed – five police and five civilians – after a police post and a highway were attacked.

Deadliest Single Attack in Musakhel

The deadliest single attack unfolded in Musakhel, a district in Baluchistan, officials said. Armed men stopped traffic on a highway and demanded that passengers on buses and trucks show them their identity cards. The gunmen forced some of the passengers out of the vehicles, and then shot and killed them. Nearly all of the victims were from Punjab Province, and the gunmen set at least 10 buses and trucks ablaze before fleeing the area.

Public Outrage Over Security Failure

This marks one of the worst and most gruesome attacks in modern Pakistan's history due to the random nature of the attacks on civilians. Consequently, there is growing public anger over the major intelligence and security failure. "No form of terrorism is acceptable in the country," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in addressing the nation. "Our fight against terrorism will continue until the complete elimination of the scourge."

Long-Running Insurgency in the Region

The southwest region has been plagued by separatist and radical Islamic terrorist organizations for years. These groups have waged a long-running insurgency against the government and its foreign partners, accusing Islamabad of exploiting the region's population.

Bottom Line

This horrific series of attacks highlights the ongoing struggle Pakistan faces with separatist and terrorist organizations. The random nature of the attacks and the targeting of specific ethnic groups have shaken the nation. As the government vows to continue its fight against terrorism, the question remains: how will it address the underlying issues that fuel these violent acts? What are your thoughts on this matter? Share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.