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Pakistan bus raids: Balochistan gunmen kill at least 19 | Pakistan bus raids: Balochistan gunmen kill at least 19 |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Gunmen in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province have attacked two buses, killing at least 19 passengers, officials have said. | Gunmen in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province have attacked two buses, killing at least 19 passengers, officials have said. |
The province's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said unidentified militants boarded the vehicles travelling to Karachi on Friday evening. | The province's Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said unidentified militants boarded the vehicles travelling to Karachi on Friday evening. |
Passengers were then ordered off and shot dead, officials said. | Passengers were then ordered off and shot dead, officials said. |
Balochistan has seen a long-running conflict between separatists and security forces. | Balochistan has seen a long-running conflict between separatists and security forces. |
No group has yet said it carried out the attack on the two buses, which happened near the town of Mastung, south of the provincial capital, Quetta. | No group has yet said it carried out the attack on the two buses, which happened near the town of Mastung, south of the provincial capital, Quetta. |
"The armed men were wearing the uniforms of the security forces," Mr Bugti told Reuters. | "The armed men were wearing the uniforms of the security forces," Mr Bugti told Reuters. |
Pashtun victims | Pashtun victims |
An operation was launched after reports of the incident emerged, and at least five people have been rescued, officials say. | An operation was launched after reports of the incident emerged, and at least five people have been rescued, officials say. |
However, the number of passengers abducted from on board remains unclear, Dawn newspaper reports. | However, the number of passengers abducted from on board remains unclear, Dawn newspaper reports. |
Fighting is ongoing in the area between the attackers and security forces. | Fighting is ongoing in the area between the attackers and security forces. |
Those killed were mostly ethnic Pashtuns, a local official told the BBC. They are natives of northern Balochistan. | Those killed were mostly ethnic Pashtuns, a local official told the BBC. They are natives of northern Balochistan. |
While separatists have regularly attacked government and military targets, attacks on Pashtuns are a rarity, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says. | While separatists have regularly attacked government and military targets, attacks on Pashtuns are a rarity, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says. |
He says officials believe this may be a tactical move by insurgents to put pressure on security forces who have recently carried out several "search and kill" operations against insurgents in the region. | He says officials believe this may be a tactical move by insurgents to put pressure on security forces who have recently carried out several "search and kill" operations against insurgents in the region. |
Rebels in Balochistan have been fighting for greater autonomy from Islamabad, and a bigger share of the region's natural resources. | Rebels in Balochistan have been fighting for greater autonomy from Islamabad, and a bigger share of the region's natural resources. |
Are you in Balochistan? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number. |