Gunmen killed 21 miners and wounded six others in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The attack took place at a coal mine in Duki district, with the gunmen storming the accommodation, rounding up the men, and opening fire. Most of the casualties were from Pashto-speaking areas of Balochistan, with three dead and four wounded being Afghan miners. The local shop owners observed a daylong strike in protest against the killings, and the families of the killed miners refused to bury them until the authorities arrest the killers.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion falls on the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which targets civilians and security forces. Balochistan is home to several separatist groups seeking independence, accusing the federal government of exploiting the region for its natural resources. The BLA has previously launched multiple attacks, killing more than 50 people. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, vowing to eliminate terrorism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured that those responsible for killing the miners would face the law.
The BLA had recently carried out an attack on Chinese nationals outside Pakistan’s biggest airport, killing two engineers. Security officials confirmed the bodies were sent to Beijing. Thousands of Chinese nationals work in Pakistan as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, with Chinese investment in Balochistan and other sectors. Two suspects linked to a 2021 bombing that killed Chinese and Pakistani workers were killed in eastern Pakistan. The ability of Pakistani forces to protect foreigners and high-profile events has come into question.
A summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is scheduled to take place in Islamabad, prompting security concerns following the recent attacks. The opposition party of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan plans to stage a peaceful protest during the summit. The Interior Ministry has alerted provinces to take additional security measures amid threats of attacks by separatists and the Pakistani Taliban. The killings of the miners occurred shortly after Saudi and Pakistani businessmen signed investment agreements worth $2 billion, including in the mining sector in Balochistan.
Saudi Arabia is also interested in investing in Reko Diq, a district in Balochistan known for its mineral wealth. Gwadar Port in Balochistan is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The BLA has warned Chinese workers to leave the province to avoid further attacks. The situation in Balochistan remains volatile, with ongoing security challenges and concerns for the safety of foreign investors and workers.
