Pakistan’s deepening security crisis in Balochistan claimed more civilian lives after suspected armed insurgents ambushed a family vehicle on the Karachi–Quetta highway, killing two women and leaving three children critically injured in yet another deadly attack on one of the province’s most dangerous routes.

According to Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Abdul Hai Baloch, the attack occurred on Tuesday evening as a family from Zhob district was travelling from Quetta to Karachi to seek medical treatment for an ailing female relative.

Police said the attackers first forced the vehicle to stop before unleashing a barrage of gunfire from both sides of the road. The two women died at the scene, while three children suffered serious injuries and were rushed to Karachi for treatment.

The latest bloodshed underscores the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan’s largest province, where repeated attacks on civilians and security forces have exposed persistent security challenges despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

The ambush also echoes a similar attack on the Quetta–Karachi highway last month, when a businessman from Karachi was shot dead, raising fresh concerns over the safety of civilians travelling through Balochistan’s volatile regions.