Unidentified gunmen on Sunday opened fire at a barber shop in the remote town of Mashkail in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, killing five workers who hailed from the eastern Punjab province, police officials confirmed. The attack is the latest in a series of targeted killings in the restive region, where a long-running separatist insurgency has intensified in recent years.
Attack Details and Casualties
The incident occurred in Mashkail, a deserted town located approximately 300 kilometers from Washuk city. Armed men on motorbikes stormed the barber shop and shot the workers dead, according to Washuk Superintendent of Police Javed Zehri. "Five laborers were killed in the latest targeted killings," Zehri told Arab News. "They belonged to various districts of Punjab province." No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the region has frequently witnessed kidnappings and attacks targeting non-native Pakistanis, whom separatists accuse of spying for the state.
Official Response and Condemnation
Washuk Deputy Commissioner Majeed Sarparah confirmed that the bodies of the deceased barbers were dispatched to Quetta, from where they will be sent to their native districts in Punjab. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, stating, "The martyred individuals were not just Punjabi laborers but they were citizens of Pakistan. Criminals involved in terrorism will be brought to justice."
Rising Militant Violence
The attack comes amid a spike in militant violence in Balochistan. Pakistani state media reported on Sunday that security forces have killed 105 militants since July 5, after militants killed over 40 people, mostly security personnel, in attacks this month. The province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been plagued by a separatist insurgency that has escalated in recent years, targeting infrastructure projects, security forces, and civilians from other provinces.
Previous Similar Attacks
This is not the first time Punjabi laborers have been targeted in Balochistan. In September 2024, unidentified gunmen stormed a residential compound in Panjgur district and killed seven laborers from Punjab. In a similar attack in May 2024, armed men gunned down seven hair salon workers in Balochistan's Gwadar district. These incidents underscore the persistent threat faced by non-native workers in the region.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least developed province, has seen a surge in militant activity, with separatist groups seeking independence from the central government. The latest killings highlight the ongoing security challenges in the area, as authorities struggle to contain the violence.
