Quetta Region Hit by Third Attack in Three Days, 3 Dead and 5 Injured

Three people were killed and five others injured on Wednesday evening when armed attackers opened fire on a Karachi-bound passenger coach in the Khadkocha area near Quetta, marking the third violent incident reported in the region within three consecutive days. Police said the vehicle was travelling from Quetta toward Karachi when it came under attack.

According to officials, the victims were shifted to a nearby medical facility soon after the firing, while police and security personnel moved into the area to secure the site. The attack created fresh alarm along one of Balochistan’s key transport routes, where passenger vehicles, commercial traffic and fuel carriers regularly move between the provincial capital and Karachi.

Authorities said the coach was carrying several passengers when gunmen targeted it. Initial details suggested that the attackers fled after the shooting, prompting law enforcement agencies to cordon off the surrounding area and launch a search operation to trace those responsible.

Police officials confirmed that the bodies and injured passengers had been moved for medical and legal formalities. Investigators also began gathering evidence from the scene and recording statements to determine whether the attack was part of a coordinated pattern of violence in Mastung and nearby areas.

The latest incident follows an attack a day earlier on gas bowsers parked outside a hotel on Dasht Road in Mastung. In that assault, one driver was killed and two others were injured, while three gas bowsers were set on fire before the attackers escaped.

Another incident had been reported a day before that when armed men opened fire on a car travelling from Zhob to Karachi near Mastung. A woman patient being taken for treatment was killed in the attack, while three others, including two children, were injured after the vehicle was fired upon when it failed to stop immediately.

The series of attacks has heightened concern over security on highways passing through parts of Balochistan. These routes are vital for passenger movement, goods transport, fuel supply and links between Quetta, Karachi and other districts, making repeated attacks a serious challenge for both provincial authorities and transport operators.

Balochistan has faced a renewed wave of violence in recent months, with security forces, public transport, infrastructure and civilians all coming under threat in different districts. The difficult terrain, long distances and scattered settlements make prevention and rapid response complex, particularly when armed groups target moving vehicles or isolated roadside locations.

For Pakistan, the repeated attacks near Quetta carry wider security and economic implications. Disruption on major highways can affect trade, passenger confidence, fuel movement and public trust in the state’s ability to protect ordinary citizens travelling between provinces.

Officials are expected to intensify patrols, examine possible links between the three incidents and expand intelligence-based operations in the affected belt. The immediate priority will be to identify the attackers, prevent further violence on passenger routes and restore confidence among travellers using the Quetta-Karachi corridor.