- A devastating attack on a coal mine has killed at least 20
- Gunmen stormed the workers' accommodation
- Police confirmed the use of hand grenades
A devastating attack on a coal mine in Balochistan province has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 20 people.
Gunmen stormed the workers’ accommodation at the Junaid Coal Company mines in the early hours of Friday morning, rounding up the men and opening fire.
The attackers used heavy weaponry, including rocket launchers and grenades, to carry out the attack. A survivor described hearing the sound of a drone overhead during the assault.
Hafeezullah, a subcontractor at the mine, recounted the terrifying ordeal, stating that he and others hid in the bathroom as the attackers approached. “When they got closer, they shouted, ‘We told you to stop work here, why didn’t you?'” he said. The attackers spoke in Pashto before opening fire. Hafeezullah estimated the attack lasted for about an hour and a half, during which time machinery was set on fire and loud explosions were heard.
Police confirmed the use of hand grenades and rocket launchers in the attack, which is believed to have been carried out by a group of 40 individuals.
Four of the victims were Afghan nationals, while the rest were from Pashto-speaking areas of Balochistan.
No group has claimed responsibility for the killings, but the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has been linked to similar attacks in the past. Mine owner Khairullah Nasar stated that the company had received threats from militants but was unaware of any specific plans for an attack.
This attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Balochistan and comes just ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad. On Monday, a BLA militant killed two Chinese nationals and injured others in a suicide attack near Karachi airport.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation, with Balochistan’s chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He stated that the attackers had an agenda to destabilize Pakistan and targeted innocent laborers.
Balochistan is a resource-rich province plagued by separatist movements, which accuse the central government of exploitation.
Militants often target security forces and individuals involved in mining and infrastructure projects. In response to the heightened security threat, Pakistani authorities are reportedly implementing stricter measures to protect Chinese citizens during the upcoming summit.
