At least 20 miners lost their lives, and seven others were injured in an attack by armed men on a private coal mine in Balochistan’s Duki region early Friday, according to local authorities.
The incident has heightened security concerns, especially in Balochistan, which has recently seen several violent attacks.
Police reported that the armed group targeted the Junaid Coal Company’s mine using heavy weapons, including rockets and grenades. District Hospital officials confirmed receiving 20 bodies and several injured individuals, while no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Duki District Council Chairman Khairullah Nasir shared that the attackers also destroyed machinery and equipment, setting fire to coal engines. Security forces, including the Frontier Corps and local police, were deployed to the site, launching a joint operation to locate remaining victims.
Duki Deputy Commissioner Kaleemullah Kakar confirmed that the deceased miners were from various regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The injured were transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment, and arrangements are underway to return the victims’ bodies to their families.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and called for an investigation. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed his anger and directed authorities to take swift action against the attackers, stressing that the incident aimed to destabilize the region.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terror-related incidents, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following a breakdown in a ceasefire agreement with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022. Recent months have witnessed an increase in attacks targeting laborers, security personnel, and law enforcement agencies in the region.
