00:00Tragic news from southwest Pakistan, where gunmen have brutally killed at least 22 people
00:05after forcing them out of their vehicles and checking their identities.
00:09This horrific attack took place overnight on a highway in Balochistan province, a region
00:14already plagued by ongoing sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence.
00:20According to officials, the armed assailants specifically targeted individuals from Punjab.
00:26After checking their identity documents, the militants reportedly singled out these victims,
00:30shot them, and then set their vehicles on fire.
00:34The Baloch Liberation Army, a known militant group, has claimed responsibility for the
00:39attack in Musa Khail district.
00:42Najibullah Kakar, a senior local official, reported that between 30 and 40 militants
00:47were involved.
00:49He stated they stopped 22 vehicles, inspected them, and identified individuals from Punjab
00:55before shooting them.
00:57The BLA, in a statement to Reuters, claimed they were targeting military personnel disguised
01:02in civilian clothing.
01:04Prior to the attack, the group had issued a warning to the Baloch public to avoid the
01:08highway, stating that their fight is against the occupying Pakistani military.
01:13They also claimed to have taken control of all major highways across Balochistan, completely
01:18blocking them.
01:20In response, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, expressed his deep grief and strong
01:26condemnation of this terrorist attack.
01:29Balochistan, despite being Pakistan's largest and most resource-rich province, remains the
01:34least developed.
01:36Over recent months, the BLA and other Baloch separatist groups have escalated their attacks,
01:41particularly targeting Punjabis and Sindhis from other parts of Pakistan who are working
01:46in the region.
01:48They've also attacked foreign energy companies, accusing them of exploiting Balochistan's
01:52resources without sharing the profits.
01:55This brutal incident echoes a similar attack in April, where nine passengers were offloaded
02:00from a bus in Balochistan and shot dead after their identities were checked.
02:05In the last 24 hours, the BLA has also launched a series of attacks on various government
02:11installations, including police stations and security forces camps across the province.
02:17The BLA has been designated as a global terrorist organization by several Western countries,
02:22including the UK and the US.
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