In Balochistan, Pakistan, unidentified gunmen attacked a Lahore-bound bus, killing seven passengers after forcing them off the vehicle and checking their identity documents late on Tuesday (Feb 18), officials reported. The attack took place in Barkhan district, where around 40 armed men stopped multiple buses and vehicles, checking passengers’ ID cards before executing the victims. All those killed were from Punjab, according to senior official Waqar Khurshid Alam.

A woman from Faisalabad shared in a video that her elder brother was dragged off the bus after an ID check, but she and others were spared.

No group has claimed responsibility yet, and the motive remains unclear. Security forces have cordoned off the area, but the attackers managed to escape. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed justice, stating that those who harm innocent citizens will "pay a heavy price."

This brutal attack echoes a similar incident in August, when 23 passengers were killed after being pulled off their vehicles. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had claimed responsibility for that assault, calling it “Haruf” (Dark Windy Storm). Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has seen a surge in separatist insurgent attacks on security forces, infrastructure projects, and migrants from Punjab, whom militants accuse of exploiting the region’s resources.

On Friday, a bomb targeted a vehicle carrying coal miners, killing 11 people and wounding six. Though no group has claimed responsibility, the Baloch Liberation Front said it carried out multiple attacks on security forces last week. Insurgent groups in Balochistan have also targeted Chinese nationals and infrastructure projects, including Gwadar seaport, which is a key part of China’s $65 billion investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Unsplash.