At least 22 people were shot dead in southwest Pakistan on Monday after being forcibly removed from vehicles and targeted based on their ethnicity, according to local government officials.
According to the AFP, the attack, which has been claimed by separatist militants, occurred in Musakhail district in Balochistan, a region grappling with ongoing sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence.
The Baloch Liberation Army a prominent separatist group in the area, took responsibility for the killings in a statement sent to AFP, claiming that their fighters had specifically targeted military personnel disguised in civilian clothing. The group did not provide evidence to support this claim.
Najibullah Kakar, a senior official in Musakhail, provided further details, stating, “Between 30 to 40 militants carried out the attack, stopping 22 vehicles on the highway connecting Punjab with Balochistan.”
He added, “The attackers inspected vehicles traveling between the provinces and identified individuals from Punjab, who were then shot.”
Among the dead were mainly Punjabi labourers and two paramilitary soldiers, according to Kakar. Another senior district official, Hameed Zehri, confirmed the death toll.
Balochistan, despite being the largest province in Pakistan and rich in natural resources, remains the country’s poorest.
The region has witnessed a surge in violence in recent years, with Baloch separatist groups intensifying their attacks against Punjabis, Sindhis, and foreign workers. These groups allege exploitation of the province’s resources without fair compensation to local communities.
This latest incident follows a similar attack in April, where 11 Punjabi labourers were abducted and killed in Naushki City, Balochistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the violence, expressing “deep grief and condemnation over the terrorist attack” in a statement issued by his office on Monday.
