Massacre in Balochistan: Militants Kill 9 Punjabi Bus Passengers in Cold Blood
In a horrifying development, nine Punjabi passengers were brutally killed in a Pakistan bus attack in the troubled province of Balochistan. The attack occurred on Thursday night in the Zhob district, situated along a national highway in Pakistan’s southwestern region. According to local officials, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a banned separatist group, has claimed responsibility for the gruesome killings.
The victims, all hailing from different parts of Punjab province, were forcibly removed from two buses by armed militants who reportedly checked their national identity cards before targeting them based on ethnicity. The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examinations, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Naveed Alam of Zhob.
What Happened During the Pakistan Bus Attack?
Late Thursday night, two passenger buses en route to Punjab were halted by gunmen on the national highway in the Zhob region. The assailants, reportedly heavily armed, boarded the buses, examined passengers’ ID cards, and forcibly abducted nine individuals of Punjabi origin. All nine were taken a short distance away from the highway and executed in cold blood.
Their bodies were discovered hours later, and security forces cordoned off the area to initiate a sweeping manhunt for the perpetrators.
Who Is Behind the Attack?
The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) has taken responsibility for this targeted killing. The BLF is known for carrying out ethno-political and anti-state insurgent operations, particularly against federal forces and infrastructure projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Over the past few years, the BLF and similar groups have escalated attacks in the region, often targeting non-Baloch citizens — especially Punjabis — to send a political message against state policies they deem exploitative.
Ongoing Militancy in Balochistan
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet least developed province, remains a hotbed of separatist insurgency. Rich in natural resources, the province has long witnessed violence between local insurgents and Pakistani security forces. These insurgent groups accuse the federal government of economic exploitation and systemic marginalization.
The latest Pakistan bus attack is just one of several horrific incidents over the past year. In February 2025, seven Punjabi passengers were similarly abducted and murdered in the Barkhan district. And in March 2025, five construction workers were shot dead near Gwadar port, a key hub in the CPEC initiative.
Official Responses: Denunciations and Promises
The massacre has drawn widespread condemnation from both federal and provincial leaders.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly denounced the killings, stating, “Targeting innocent people based on ethnicity is an unpardonable crime. The culprits will not be spared, even if they hide underground.” He promised full-scale counter-terror operations to bring the attackers to justice.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack, calling it “an act of unparalleled barbarity.” He acknowledged that militants were trying to stoke ethnic divisions by deliberately attacking Punjabis.
Security officials have since shut down traffic on major highways, launched search operations, and reinforced military checkpoints across Balochistan.
Ethnic Targeting and Sectarian Concerns
The pattern in these attacks is troubling. Ethnic profiling is now being used as a tool for systemic violence, mainly against Punjabi settlers and travelers. Analysts believe this may be part of a larger strategy to create panic, economic instability, and force demographic shifts in volatile regions.
In light of these repeated Pakistan bus attacks, rights groups have urged the Pakistani government to adopt robust protective measures for inter-provincial travelers. Several civil society groups have also highlighted the need for negotiated political solutions to the long-standing Baloch insurgency rather than mere military responses.
Militancy Disrupting CPEC & Civil Life
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, worth over $60 billion, has become a consistent target of Baloch militant groups. Infrastructure projects like roads, railways, and oil pipelines, which cut through Balochistan, have brought limited local benefits — further fueling resentment.
Recently, communication towers, banks, police stations, and other state-run facilities were attacked across Quetta, Mastung, and Loralai. However, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind claimed that most attacks were repelled successfully by security forces and no major casualties were reported in those cases.
Why This Matters
The Pakistan bus attack in Zhob is a stark reminder of the ongoing instability in the region and the vulnerability of ordinary civilians. Such targeted ethnic killings have far-reaching consequences, not just for national security but also for communal harmony across Pakistan.
To learn more about earlier incidents involving the targeting of Punjabis in Balochistan, read our detailed coverage of the February Barkhan massacre here.
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