More than 70 people died.

This was the biggest attack in years carried out by nationalist militants in their decades-long insurgency to gain secession from this resource-rich southwestern Pakistani province, which is home to major Chinese-funded projects such as a seaport and a gold and copper mine.

"These attacks were part of a carefully planned scheme to create chaos in Pakistan," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement.

The vehicles are charred black after separatist fighters carried out attacks in Balochistan province, Pakistan, on August 26, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The Pakistani army said 14 soldiers and police officers and 21 militants were killed in fighting following the biggest attack yet on buses and trucks on a major highway.

The Balochistan minister said 38 civilians were also killed. Local officials said 23 of them died in the roadside attack after gunmen stopped buses and opened fire on passengers indiscriminately.

"People were dragged off the bus and killed in front of their families," Minister Sarfraz Bugti said in a televised press conference.

Rail traffic in Quetta has been suspended following an explosion on a railway bridge connecting the provincial capital to the rest of Pakistan. Militants also attacked a railway line connecting to neighboring Iran.

Police said they found six unidentified bodies near the site of the attack on the railway bridge.

Officials said the militants also targeted police and security posts in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least populated province, killing at least 10 people in a single attack.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant group has claimed responsibility for what they call "Haruf," or "black wind storm." In a statement to reporters, they claimed more attacks over the past day that have not yet been confirmed by authorities.

Positions attacked by insurgents in Pakistan. Graphic image: AJ

The group said four suicide bombers, including a woman, were involved in an attack on the Bela paramilitary base. Pakistani authorities have not confirmed the suicide bombings, but officials said three people were killed at the base.

The BLA is the largest ethnic rebel group among several insurgent groups fighting against the central government, claiming that it unfairly exploits gas and mineral resources in the province. They want to expel the Chinese and gain independence for Balochistan.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was re-elected in March, declared that security forces would retaliate and bring those responsible to justice.

Minister Bugti said that more intelligence operations would be deployed to eliminate the militants. "They carry out attacks, film them, and then share them on social media for propaganda," he said.

General Li Qiaoming, commander of the Chinese Army, and Chief of the Pakistani Army Asim Munir met on Monday, although a statement released by the Pakistani military after the meeting made no mention of the attacks.

European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali said the EU condemned the attack.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, CNN, AJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/vu-quan-ly-khai-tan-cong-kinh-hoang-o-pakistan-hon-70-nguoi-thiet-mang-quan-doi-dang-truy-diet-post309395.html