Gunmen Attack Passenger Vehicles in Pakistan, 38 Killed, 29 injured

In a tragic incident, at least 38 people, including women and children, were killed when gunmen opened fire on passenger vans in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram tribal district on Thursday. The attack, which also left 29 others injured, took place as the vehicles were traveling between Peshawar and Parachinar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, described the incident as a "major tragedy." A local resident of Parachinar, Ziarat Hussain, reported that some of his relatives were among the victims.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the assault, the incident has drawn widespread condemnation. Pakistan's President, Asif Ali Zardari, denounced the attack as a "cowardly and inhumane act," calling for justice for the victims.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, also expressed outrage. He stressed the government’s duty to protect civilian lives and restore law and order, stating, "Those responsible must be brought to justice."

This attack comes just two weeks after a deadly explosion at the Quetta railway station in southwestern Pakistan, which claimed 21 lives and injured 30 others. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group seeking independence for Balochistan, claimed responsibility for that incident.

The recent spate of violence underscores the fragile security situation in the region, raising concerns about the safety of civilians in conflict-prone areas.