Innocent Civilians Targeted in Balochistan Bus Attack as Terror Escalates

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At least three people were killed and seven others injured in a targeted bus attack in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, highlighting the growing insecurity in the region. The ambush, which occurred in the Kalat district, is the latest in a string of violent assaults on civilians traveling through the area.

According to Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a passenger bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta. “Three passengers were martyred and seven others were injured in the tragic incident,” Rind said in a public statement. The wounded were transported to District Headquarters Hospital in Kalat, where a state of emergency was declared. Security forces quickly responded, securing the area and launching a search operation to apprehend the attackers.

This attack comes on the heels of another deadly incident just days prior, when armed militants kidnapped and killed nine passengers in the same province. The victims had been forcibly taken from multiple buses before their bullet-riddled bodies were discovered in nearby mountains, according to another government official, Naveed Alam.

Government officials have blamed these ongoing attacks on foreign-backed militant groups operating inside Balochistan, pointing particularly to the involvement of Indian-supported elements. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident, describing it as a “cowardly terrorist attack by Fitna-e-Hindustan, ”a term used by the current government to refer to alleged India-backed insurgents. He emphasized a strong retaliatory stance, stating, “The terrorists who targeted innocent and unarmed civilians will pay a very heavy price.”

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed similar sentiments, asserting that these violent acts are part of a larger agenda aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. “With the nation’s support, we will foil the plots of these Indian-sponsored terrorists,” he declared, underscoring the government’s commitment to restoring security in Balochistan.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah described the incident as “barbaric,” emphasizing that peace and progress cannot be achieved without the elimination of such extremist threats. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman also weighed in, urging the federal government to take “decisive and robust action” to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.

This latest assault follows a disturbing pattern in the province, where terrorist groups frequently target civilians, especially travelers, in remote regions. In March, at least five passengers were executed in the Gwadar district after gunmen halted a Karachi-bound bus and checked identification cards before carrying out the killings.

While the federal administration continues to issue strong statements, many citizens are left wondering when concrete action will replace condemnation. With law enforcement stretched thin and parts of Balochistan effectively lawless, the need for a serious reevaluation of security policy is becoming increasingly urgent.

As Balochistan remains under siege by violent elements and foreign interference, ordinary citizens are bearing the brunt. Without a shift from rhetoric to results, these tragedies are likely to continue.