Pakistan: Nine Abducted and Killed in Balochistan Attack

Islamabad – At least nine passengers were abducted and shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, the provincial government’s spokesperson confirmed on Friday.

The deadly incident took place near Zhob, a town in northern Balochistan, where armed men reportedly stopped passenger buses late Thursday evening. The attackers checked passengers' identity cards, selectively abducted individuals, and later executed them at a remote location.

“The victims, all from Punjab province, were taken away from the buses and shot dead. Their bodies have been recovered,” said Shahid Rind, the provincial government’s spokesperson, as quoted by local media.

Following the attack, security forces launched a large-scale search operation in the area to locate any remaining abducted individuals and apprehend the culprits.

While official sources confirmed the victims were civilians, some media reports suggested the nine individuals were military intelligence agents traveling from Quetta to Lahore. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the killings so far.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident, calling it a heinous act of terrorism.

“We will deal with terrorists with full force. The blood of the innocent will not go in vain. With unity, determination, and strength, we will eliminate terrorism from the country,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti also denounced the attack and vowed justice.

“We will crush every terror plot with unwavering resolve and complete unity,” he declared.

In response to the attack, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement expressing deep concern and grief.

“HRCP is deeply saddened by the killing of at least nine passengers who were forced off Punjab-bound buses and executed near the Loralai-Zhob border,” the statement said. It urged the federal and provincial governments to work toward a “fair political solution” to the longstanding issues in Balochistan.

This incident comes just weeks after six coaches of the Jaffar Express derailed following a blast on the railway tracks in Sindh’s Jacobabad district. The train, en route from Quetta to Peshawar, was reportedly targeted by the Baloch Republican Guards, a separatist group.

The militant group also claimed responsibility for attacks on shipping containers linked to the Reko Diq mining project in Chagai, Balochistan.

“The Jaffar Express is used by the occupying Pakistani army to move troops. Our attacks will intensify,” a spokesperson warned, adding that such operations would continue until Balochistan gains independence.

Baloch separatist groups have long been fighting for independence from Pakistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) recently released a statement titled "A New Order has Become Inevitable in the Region", accusing Pakistan of being a state sponsor of terrorism and urging the international community to recognise it as such.

With inputs from IANS