In a tragic and brutal attack, gunmen in southwestern Pakistan fatally shot 23 passengers after pulling them from buses, vehicles, and trucks. The massacre took place overnight in Musakhail, Baluchistan province, with the assailants also setting fire to at least 10 vehicles before fleeing the scene.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack as “barbaric” and promised that the perpetrators would face justice. The outlawed Baluch Liberation Army had earlier warned people to avoid highways, though no group immediately claimed responsibility for the killings.
This incident is yet another grim chapter in Baluchistan’s long-standing struggle for independence from the central government in Islamabad. The region has seen a history of violence, with separatist groups targeting individuals from Punjab and other parts of the country.
The presence of both separatist and Islamist militant groups in the province adds to the complexity and volatility of the situation. The community is left reeling from this senseless and tragic loss of life.
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