Gunmen Kill 20, Injure 7 in Deadly Attack on Miners in Pakistan’s Balochistan

In a deadly attack in Pakistan’s southwest, gunmen killed 20 miners and injured seven others in Balochistan province, according to police reports on Friday. The attackers targeted workers’ accommodations at a coal mine in Duki district late Thursday night. Police officer Hamayun Khan Nasir confirmed that the gunmen gathered the miners before opening fire.

Most of the victims were from Pashtun-speaking areas of Balochistan, with three of the deceased and four injured being Afghans.

The attack occurred just days before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled to take place in Islamabad on October 16 and 17. High-profile attendees, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, are expected, with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar slated to visit Pakistan on October 15—marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years.

As security measures are heightened ahead of the summit, various public establishments in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will remain closed from October 12 to 16.

Balochistan is known for separatist movements seeking independence, accusing the government of exploiting the region’s natural resources. While no group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack, separatist groups have previously carried out similar attacks, including the Baloch Liberation Army’s recent claim of an attack on Chinese nationals near Pakistan’s largest airport. Thousands of Chinese workers are present in Pakistan, primarily due to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.