Pakistan: Unidentified militants kill senior Quetta police officer Nov. 15

Event

Unidentified gunmen killed a senior police officer and three of his family members in Quetta, Balochistan, on the evening of Wednesday, November 15. Reports say the gunmen approached District Superintendent Muhammad Ilyas and family, opened fire, and then fled on a motorcycle. The motivation behind the attack remains unclear, and the incident has not yet been claimed by any militant group.

Context

The Quetta region of Balochistan province, located in north-central Pakistan, has experienced high levels of violence in recent months and years due to its position along a major arms smuggling route and proximity to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Car bombs, suicide bombings, and armed attacks are common, and often target the Balochistan Frontier Corps, local police forces, and lawyers.

Advice

Due to the high threat of terrorism and other forms of violent crime, individuals in Pakistan are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities (their diplomatic mission or security manager). As a reminder, all Western embassies in Pakistan advise their citizens against nonessential travel to the country. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.