Gunmen kill in Pakistan

In a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan province, southwestern Pakistan, at least 39 people were killed, primarily targeting individuals from Punjab. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assaults, which included the execution of 23 passengers taken from buses in Musakhail and separate attacks in Qalat that claimed nine lives, including four police officers. Insurgents also detonated explosives on railway lines and attacked police stations, while security forces reportedly killed 12 militants during operations in response to the violence. Despite Pakistani authorities' assertions of having suppressed the insurgency, violence persists in the region, driven by separatist demands for independence. The recent assaults have raised significant concerns about security and the targeting of civilians, as many victims were identified by their origins from outside Balochistan. Local officials and leaders from Punjab have condemned the attacks, urging increased efforts to combat the BLA.