Insurgents Execute Nine Punjabi Passengers in Balochistan
In Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, armed insurgents abducted and killed nine bus passengers identified as being from Punjab. The attack occurred late Thursday in the Zhob district when militants stopped two buses, checked identity cards, and executed the selected individuals. The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a banned separatist group, has claimed responsibility for the targeted killings, which have been condemned by Pakistani officials as an act of terrorism aimed at fueling ethnic strife.
Unpacked:
The Baloch insurgency stems from longstanding grievances over marginalization and resource exploitation by the central government. Since Balochistan's forced accession to Pakistan in 1948, Baloch nationalists have resisted federal dominance, particularly by Punjabis, and sought greater autonomy. These tensions have led to repeated armed uprisings and separatist movements over decades.
The BLF is a Baloch ethnonationalist separatist group founded in 1964. It seeks independence for Balochistan and has targeted Pakistani government officials, security forces, and infrastructure, especially projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which they view as exploiting Baloch resources.
Punjabis were targeted due to perceptions among Baloch separatists that Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, dominates the federal government and exploits Balochistan's resources. Such attacks are intended to retaliate against perceived injustices and fuel ethnic division as part of the insurgent strategy.
The Pakistani government has used military force and political repression to suppress Baloch uprisings, often arresting nationalist leaders and dissolving provincial governments. At times, there have been attempts at negotiation and development initiatives, but mistrust and periodic violence have persisted for decades.