Friday 13 / September / 2024
A string of militant attacks in Pakistan left dozens dead, officials said on Monday. The attacks targeted civilians and policemen and were carried out by separatist insurgents.
"We have confirmed 39 people killed in several coordinated attacks carried out by the BLA (Baluch Liberation Army) terrorists," Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan provincial government, told AFP.
The attack took place in the Balochistan region of Pakistan, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan. It was the most widespread assault by separatist insurgents in the area in many years.
Balochistan is the country's largest province by size, but it is also the least populated. Balochistan remains largely underdeveloped and has high poverty levels. The region is rich in oil and mineral wealth and it is home to China-led infrastructure projects.Several attacks across Baluchistan
The first attack took place overnight on Sunday in the Balochistan district of Musakhail, senior police official Ayub Achakzai said, where militants set some 10 vehicles ablaze.
They targeted vehicles from buses to goods trucks, killing at least 23 people and setting some 35 vehicles ablaze. These included buses and cars, but also goods vehicles.
"The armed men also not only killed passengers but also killed the drivers of trucks carrying coal," said Hameed Zahir, deputy commissioner of the area.Then early on Monday, a second attack took place, where gunmen killed four police officers and five civilians in Qalat district.
Militants also set off explosives in a railway track in Bolan district, attacked a police station in Mastung district and attacked and burned vehicles in Gwadar district. No casualties were reported in those attacks.
