This marks one of the most extensive assaults by ethnic insurgents in recent years.
The separatist militants, who have long sought independence for the resource-rich region, have targeted key China-led projects, including a strategic port and mining operations.
Authorities confirmed that the most severe attack occurred on a major highway, where militants targeted buses and goods trucks, killing at least 23 people and setting ten vehicles on fire.
Explosives also damaged a railway line between Pakistan and Iran, as well as a bridge connecting Quetta to the rest of the country, according to railways official Muhammad Kashif.
Rail traffic to Quetta was halted following the attack, officials said. Around the same time, militants launched assaults on police and security stations across Balochistan, resulting in at least 10 fatalities.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility in an email to journalists, stating that it had carried out several attacks, including one on a key paramilitary base, though Pakistani authorities have yet to confirm these reports.
Gunmen Target Passengers
On Sunday night, gunmen in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, stopped traffic on a highway, forced passengers off vehicles, and killed them after checking their identity cards, according to Senior Superintendent Ayub Achakzai.
Deputy Commissioner Hameed Zahir added that the attackers also killed truck drivers and set at least 10 trucks on fire.
Militants have frequently targeted workers from Punjab, accusing them of exploiting Balochistan’s resources.
They have also previously targeted Chinese interests, with China managing the strategic Gawadar port and a gold and copper mine in the province.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating its fighters had killed military personnel disguised as civilians.
The Pakistani interior ministry stated that the deceased were innocent civilians.
Balochistan Station Attack
Armed militants stormed a Balochistan Levies station in Kalat district, killing six security personnel, three civilians, and one tribal elder, according to police official Dostain Khan Dashti.
Additional attacks on police stations in two southern coastal towns have been reported, though casualty figures are not yet confirmed.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the violence, pledging a strong response. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, remains underdeveloped and impoverished.