5 Civilians Killed in Bus Attack in Balochistan, Pakistan

At least five passengers were killed in a militant attack in Gwadar, Balochistan, after being offloaded from a Karachi-bound bus, Anadolu Agency reported. The incident occurred late Wednesday night when armed men blocked a highway in the Kalmat area, checked passengers’ identification cards, and opened fire on those from northeastern Punjab.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the act as “heinous and cowardly.” While no group has claimed responsibility, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has been linked to similar attacks. Recent violence in the region includes the killing of four laborers in Kalat and four policemen in Noshki.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, labeling the perpetrators as “enemies of peace and development.” Balochistan has experienced a low-intensity rebellion, with renewed BLA attacks, including a recent hijacking of a passenger train that resulted in 31 deaths. Separatist groups in the region seek independence, claiming Balochistan was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan in 1947.