The death toll from coordinated attacks in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province has risen to at least 73 people since Sunday. Separatist militants reportedly struck multiple areas, including police stations, highways, and railway lines, in one of the most widespread assaults in recent years on the resource-rich region.
The separatist group, known as the Baluchistan Liberation Army, seeks to create a sovereign state in Baluchistan, separate from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. Baluchistan is Pakistan's largest region by land mass, accounting for roughly 44% of the country's territory, and historically includes portions of Afghanistan and Iran. While the area is abundant in resources like oil and gas and minerals like gold and copper, it is one of Pakistan's poorest. As much as 70% of Baluchistan's population of 15 million people is estimated to live in poverty. See the history of Baluchistan here.
The Baluchistan Liberation Army is the largest ethnic insurgent group fighting against Pakistan's government and has been designated a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the US, and the UK.
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