At least three people were killed and 12 others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a passenger bus in Balochistan’s Kalat district on July 16, 2025. The incident, which targeted a coach traveling from Karachi to Quetta, has heightened concerns about security in the region.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday near Nimarg Cross, where assailants fired on the bus, reportedly using a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms. The injured, including two in critical condition, were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Kalat, where an emergency was declared. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed the terror incident, noting that security forces, district administration, and rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene. A search operation is underway to apprehend the attackers, with no group claiming responsibility as of yet.
The attack has drawn strong condemnation from Pakistani leaders. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the injured. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called it a “cowardly terrorist attack” by groups he labeled “Fitna-e-Hindustan,” vowing a robust response to eradicate terrorism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the targeting of civilians as a “heinous conspiracy” to destabilize Pakistan. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, in a post on X, labeled the attack “despicable,” stating that such acts target ordinary Pakistanis and pledged to defeat the perpetrators. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman also condemned the attack, calling it “barbaric” and “heinous.”
This incident follows a similar attack last week, where nine passengers were abducted and killed in Balochistan’s Sur-Dakai area, with the banned Balochistan Liberation Front claiming responsibility. The recurring violence underscores the ongoing security challenges in Balochistan, prompting calls for enhanced measures to protect civilians and restore stability.
