In a tragic incident late Thursday night, gunmen attacked miners in the Duki district of Balochistan, Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals and injuries to seven others, as reported by a police official.
This attack comes just days before a significant Asian security summit set to take place in Islamabad. Police official Hamayun Khan Nasir detailed that the assailants targeted the miners’ accommodations, rounding up the workers before opening fire. They also used rockets and grenades, causing extensive damage to mining equipment before fleeing the scene.
The victims, predominantly from Pashtun-speaking regions of Balochistan, included three Afghans among the deceased and four among the injured. In response to the violence, local shop owners participated in a day-long strike, voicing their outrage and solidarity with the victims’ families.
Authorities have condemned the attack and launched a manhunt for the attackers, reflecting heightened concerns over the region’s security situation. According to AP, while no group has claimed responsibility yet, suspicion is likely to fall on the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), known for targeting civilians and security personnel.
Current operations involve both police and paramilitary forces conducting searches for the assailants. In August, the BLA was implicated in a series of attacks that led to over 50 fatalities, prompting authorities to retaliate and reportedly kill 21 insurgents.
Among the earlier victims were 23 passengers, mostly from eastern Punjab, who were shot after being abducted from their vehicles in Musakhail district, Balochistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the recent killings and reiterated his commitment to eradicating terrorism.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, condemned the assailants as ruthless, emphasizing their agenda to destabilize Pakistan. He promised that the deaths of these innocent laborers would not go unpunished.
The BLA has also claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Chinese nationals near Pakistan’s largest airport, with security officials reporting that the bodies of two Chinese engineers were flown back to Beijing on Thursday night. Thousands of Chinese workers are involved in Pakistan, primarily engaged in the multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.
Following a suicide bombing attributed to the BLA, concerns have been raised about the capability of Pakistani forces to ensure safety during high-profile events and for foreign nationals.
With the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit approaching in Islamabad, authorities have ramped up security measures, deploying troops to thwart potential terrorist activities. The miners’ deaths occurred just hours after Saudi and Pakistani businessmen signed 27 memorandums of understanding worth $2 billion for investments, including in Balochistan’s mining sector, in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
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