QUETTA, Pakistan — At least 20 people, including three Afghan nationals, were killed early Friday when unidentified gunmen attacked a coal mine in the Duki district of Balochistan. The attackers fired rockets and grenades, also injuring seven others, according to Pakistani media reports.
The wounded were transported to Teaching Hospital Loralai for medical treatment, as reported by Geo News. Humayun Khan, the police station officer for Duki, told Reuters that the assailants used heavy weapons and set mining machinery on fire during the assault on the Junaid Coal Company site. “The gunmen gathered the miners and opened fire on them,” Khan said.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions and an increase in security incidents in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The country is currently grappling with political uncertainty and an economic crisis, while also hosting a Saudi delegation exploring mining investments.
As of Friday, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which reportedly included four Afghan nationals among the dead, with four other Afghans injured.
