At least 11 people, including nine bus passengers, have been killed by unknown militants in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Friday. The incident occurred when armed men stopped a bus on the highway in Noshki district and kidnapped nine men at gunpoint, according to police reports. The bodies of the nine men were later found with bullet wounds in the nearby mountainous areas near a bridge.
The bus was en route from Quetta to Taftan when the armed men intercepted it and took the nine men to the mountainous areas after identifying them. In a separate incident on the same highway, a car was fired upon resulting in the death of two passengers and injuries to two others.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti vowed to hunt down the terrorists responsible for the killings, stating that they would not be forgiven. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the incident, emphasizing that the government stands with the families of the deceased during this difficult time.
No banned outfit has claimed responsibility for the killings, but there has been a recent surge in terror attacks by banned outfits and terrorists in the province. The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for three major terror strikes in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of 17 militants in encounters with security forces. The government is determined to maintain peace and security in the region amidst these escalating acts of violence.