60 killed in separatist attacks across Balochistan in Pakistan
60 killed in separatist attacks across Balochistan in Pakistan
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| Photo: Reuters |
More than 60 people have been killed in attacks by separatist militants on police stations, railway lines and highway vehicles across Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Officials said this on Monday. This is the largest-scale attack by ethnic insurgents in years.
Among these, the biggest attacks have occurred on major highways ranging from buses to cargo trucks. Local officials said 23 people were killed and 356 vehicles were torched in these attacks.
Railway official Muhammad Kashif said that the railway between Pakistan and Iran, a connecting bridge with the provincial capital of Quetta, was also hit by the bomb attack.
Railway traffic with Quetta has been stopped, he said. Police say they have recovered 6 dead bodies from the attack site on the railway bridge. But they could not be identified.
Officials said that at least 10 people were killed in attacks on police and security posts in various places on Sunday night.
Radio Pakistan says security forces and law enforcement agencies responded to the attack. 12 militants were killed in the fight. In addition, 14 soldiers and police were killed, the army said. They said that 21 militants were also killed.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to reporters. It also claimed responsibility for attacks at other locations, including a paramilitary base. However, Pakistani authorities have not yet confirmed the attack.
Several Baloch nationalist insurgent groups are active in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan. Baloch rebels are fighting for the independence of Balochistan.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement that security forces had killed 12 militants in an operation following Monday's attack. These attacks have been well planned to create chaos in Pakistan.
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