ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday instructed authorities to identify the separatist militants who killed over 50 people in Balochistan in a series of coordinated attacks and take firm action against them, as international condemnations continued to pour in, with several countries, including Saudi Arabia, condemning the incident.

Sharif made the statement during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti only a day after over 50 people were killed in the most widespread assault in years by ethnic militants fighting a decades-long insurgency in the province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and a gold and copper mine.

Separatist militants in Balochistan, a key region bordering Iran and Afghanistan, are fighting for independence, alleging exploitation of the province’s mineral and gas wealth by the central government. The Pakistani state denies this and says it is working for the uplift of the region through various development schemes.

“The prime minister instructed that all possible measures be taken to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan,” said a statement circulated after the meeting by the PM Office.

“He directed that terrorists be identified and dealt with firmly.”

Prior to that, Naqvi visited Quetta, Balochistan’s provincial capital, where he ruled out a military operation against militants while promising a targeted response.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the separatist outfit that claimed responsibility for the attacks, also issued a statement on Tuesday night, saying it had carried out operations at 40 different locations across 13 districts of the province.

It maintained the group had destroyed gas pipelines at two locations, railway tracks at seven locations and demolished two bridges.

However, the attacks, which included the killing of 23 passengers who were pulled off their vehicles on a highway before being shot dead, were widely condemned by the international community.

Saudi Arabia denounced the developments in Balochistan in a social media post, reiterating its stance against all forms of violence, extremism and targeting of civilians.

“The Kingdom also expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the government, and the people of Pakistan,” it said.

Earlier, the Chinese foreign ministry also condemned the separatist violence, saying it would continue to give “staunch support to Pakistan in their efforts to advance counterterrorism operations.”

The American diplomatic mission in Pakistan also expressed shock at the militant attacks in Pakistan’s southwest, expressing solidarity with Pakistan.