QUETTA, PAKISTAN May 27, 2026 — Hundreds of trucks remain idle in Quetta as transporters in Balochistan province launched a strike on Wednesday, protesting escalating attacks by Baloch separatist groups on highways, vehicles, and transport infrastructure. The action has disrupted supply chains in the restive southwestern province.
Al Jazeera reporter Kamal Hyder highlighted the crisis, showing rows of parked, colorfully decorated trucks in Quetta truck yards. Drivers and union leaders say they can no longer operate safely on major routes due to ambushes, burnings, and looting.
Truck driver Mohammed Imran told reporters: highways are unsafe, with unknown attackers repeatedly burning vehicles and causing huge financial losses. With minimal security, transporters decided to suspend services.
Leaders from the Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association and Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed deep concern over the worsening law and order situation. Recent incidents include armed men stopping and torching cargo trucks on routes like the Mastung Bypass and Nushki’s RCD Highway, with losses estimated in the millions of rupees.
The strike follows a surge in violence, including attacks on mineral transport and extortion on key highways linked to projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The timing coincides with a deadly suicide car bombing on May 24-25, 2026, near Chaman Phatak in Quetta. The blast targeted a shuttle train carrying security personnel and families, killing at least 24-47 people and injuring dozens more. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, describing it as an attack on military targets.
This incident is part of a broader uptick in Baloch insurgent activity in 2026, including coordinated BLA operations in January-February that targeted security forces, infrastructure, and civilian vehicles across multiple districts. Pakistani forces reported killing dozens to hundreds of militants in response, but attacks on transport routes have persisted.
Balochistan, rich in minerals and strategically vital due to Gwadar Port, has long faced a low-level separatist insurgency. Groups like the BLA demand greater autonomy or independence, citing resource exploitation and marginalization. Recent violence has raised fears of further economic disruption, affecting trade, mining, and regional connectivity.
Authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the truckers’ demands for enhanced highway security. The strike could prolong shortages if unresolved, compounding challenges from prior attacks on trains and roads.
This situation underscores ongoing security challenges in Pakistan’s southwest, where militant activities continue to impact civilians and the economy.
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