All articles tagged with #balochistan
A tragic honor killing in Balochistan, Pakistan, was captured on video, showing a young couple being shot by family members after the bride's brother reportedly objected to her marriage. Thirteen suspects, including tribal leader Sardar Sherbaz Khan, have been arrested. The incident highlights ongoing issues of violence against women and tribal patriarchy in Pakistan, with activists calling for justice and reform.
Nine bus passengers kidnapped in Balochistan, Pakistan, were found dead with bullet wounds, amid ongoing insurgent violence in the region. The victims, laborers from Punjab, were seized by armed men, with no immediate claim of responsibility, though Baloch separatists are suspected. The region faces complex tensions involving ethnic insurgents, accusations against India, and attacks targeting Pakistani military and Chinese interests, especially around the strategic port of Gwadar.
A suicide bomb attack at a railway station in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, has killed at least 25 people and injured dozens more. The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a military unit. The explosion occurred as a train was about to depart for Peshawar, with both civilians and military personnel among the casualties. This incident is part of a surge in attacks in the region, driven by demands for independence and control over local resources.
A suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, killed at least 24 people and injured 53 others. The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosion occurred on a crowded platform, prompting security forces to cordon off the area and initiate an investigation. The attack is part of a long-running insurgency in Balochistan, which has intensified with the development of the Gwadar port under China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in deadly attacks, with five suicide bombings targeting Chinese interests, prompting concerns about a larger plan to harm economic ties between Pakistan and China. The attacks have been claimed by various armed groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army, and have raised questions about the involvement of religiously inspired armed groups and individuals. The Pakistani government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and protect Chinese nationals and projects in the country, while analysts emphasize the need to address the grievances of Balochistan to mitigate the insurgency.
Five Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver were killed in a suicide bomb attack on their convoy in northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The convoy was en route to a hydroelectric dam construction site when the attacker rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into it. The incident comes amid heightened security concerns for Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan, with separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army claiming responsibility for recent attacks. The Chinese embassy in Islamabad has not yet commented on the incident, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistani security forces repelled an attack by militants on a complex near the Gwadar port, killing all eight attackers. The port, heavily invested in by China, is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the assault, which targeted government and intelligence offices. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region, where separatist groups have been fighting for a larger share of regional wealth.
Two bomb explosions near candidates' offices in Balochistan, Pakistan, killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens on the eve of general elections, with the Islamic State claiming responsibility. The violence in the resource-rich but troubled province has been marred by a history of struggle for autonomy and Islamist militant activity. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, banned from standing and jailed on corruption charges he claims are politically motivated, has seen his party, PTI, sidelined and its candidates running as independents. The front-runner in the election is three-time former PM Nawaz Sharif, who has reportedly made a deal with the military to facilitate his return to politics.
At least six fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army and four security officials were killed in an overnight attack in Balochistan, Pakistan. The rebel group targeted military and security installations in the city of Mach, resulting in a 12-hour gun battle. The attack caused minor damage to a police station and a prison, but no inmates were harmed. The decades-old rebel movement in Balochistan accuses the Pakistani government of neglect and unfair resource distribution. The attack comes amid heightened global attention on Balochistan following an Iranian air strike and a month-long sit-in held by Baloch people in the capital Islamabad.
Iran's airstrike on a Pakistani border town targeted the terrorist militia Jaish al-Adl, while Pakistan retaliated by attacking an Iranian village to eliminate fighters of the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), both of which are militant separatist groups fighting for the independence of the Balochistan region. The Baloch, an ethnic group living on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border, have faced violent suppression of autonomy efforts, leading to increasing radicalization and attacks. The region is rich in natural resources, but the population remains among the poorest, with tensions exacerbated by infrastructure developments like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Tensions between Iran and Pakistan are further complicated by their involvement in other regional conflicts, and both countries have their own domestic concerns that make further escalation unlikely.
Iran and Pakistan engaged in missile strikes as part of efforts to disrupt violence by ethnic separatist groups, with Pakistan targeting Baloch separatists in Iran and Iran targeting an anti-Iranian Baloch group in Pakistan. The strikes are seen as more about each country's internal politics and struggles against ethnic insurgency than about wider conflicts in the Middle East. The Baloch people, a Sunni Muslim ethnic minority, have been oppressed by both countries, leading to separatist movements. The strikes also reflect Iran's desire to display its military capabilities and deter adversaries, while Pakistan seeks to de-escalate to manage its internal crises.
Pakistan strikes targets in Iran, a day after Iran attacked a Baloch separatist group's headquarters in Pakistan. Pakistan condemned Iran's actions as a violation of its sovereignty and warned of serious consequences. Pakistan has recalled its ambassador from Iran, suspended high-level visits, and holds Iran responsible for the consequences of its actions. The strikes and retaliation come amid escalating tensions in the region, including the Hamas-Israel conflict and rising attacks on vessels in the Red Sea.
Baloch activists protesting against "enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings" in Balochistan were beaten, arrested, and blocked from entering Islamabad. The protesters, including women and children, were met with water cannons, tear gas, and police violence. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Amnesty International condemned the excessive use of force and called for the release of all detainees. The protests were sparked by the alleged killing of a Baloch youth, reigniting discussions about frequent extrajudicial killings and detentions in Balochistan.
At least 60 people were killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing during a celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday in Quetta, Pakistan. The town of Mastung, where the attack took place, is now engulfed in mourning, with people unable to comprehend such a heinous act at a sacred religious gathering. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has distanced itself from it. The business community in Balochistan province observed a strike to mourn the victims, highlighting the impact of terrorism on business activities in the region. Pakistan's caretaker government has vowed to take revenge for the bloodshed and has announced compensation for the victims, but for the families who lost loved ones, money matters little in the face of their grief.
A suicide bombing near a mosque in Balochistan, Pakistan, has killed at least 52 people and injured around 70 others during a religious procession celebrating the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammad. Another attack targeting a mosque in a different part of the country left five people dead. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings, but the Pakistani Taliban denied involvement. ISIS-Khorasan, a branch of ISIS operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan, has previously claimed responsibility for attacks in Balochistan. The bombings mark one of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan in a decade.