In a devastating incident, at least 20 miners were killed and seven others injured in an armed attack on coal mines in Balochistan’s Duki district during the early hours of Friday. The brutal assault, involving rockets and grenades, has triggered massive protests across the region, with citizens and traders expressing their outrage.
Details of the Attack in Duki
A group of armed men targeted the coal mines in the Duki area, east of Quetta, using heavy weapons. “The attackers fired rockets and grenades in the wee hours of Friday,” said Humayun Khan, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the town. The assailants launched the attack with brutal force, destroying mining infrastructure and causing significant loss of life.
Balochistan, a region rich in minerals and bordering Afghanistan and Iran, has long been plagued by violence. This latest attack adds to the growing instability in the area. However, no group has claimed responsibility for this heinous act so far.
Public Outrage and Protests
Following the tragic attack, local residents and traders in Duki organized a demonstration at Bacha Khan Chowk, displaying the bodies of the miners who lost their lives. Protesters demanded justice and action against the attackers, condemning the violence that has claimed innocent lives. In solidarity with the victims, traders declared a shutter-down strike, keeping all business and markets closed across the district.
Security forces, including police and Frontier Corps (FC), quickly cordoned off the area surrounding the coal mines and launched a search operation to hunt down the attackers. Meanwhile, the injured miners and bodies of the deceased were transferred to Teaching Hospital Loralai for medical attention.
Rising Death Toll
Initially, authorities reported two deaths, but the toll quickly climbed to 20 as the full extent of the attack became clear. Medical Officer Dr. Johar Sadozai confirmed the final death toll, adding that some of the deceased miners were from different parts of Balochistan, while three were Afghan nationals who had come to work at the mines.
Haji Khairullah Nasir, the owner of the coal mines, revealed that the attackers also set the mining machinery on fire, inflicting further damage.
Government’s Response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and requested a detailed report from the relevant authorities. Expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives, he conveyed his condolences to the families of the slain miners and reiterated his government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti also condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly attempt to destabilize Pakistan. “Terrorists target laborers in such attacks to create fear, but we will punish those responsible,” Bugti said.
Increasing Violence in Balochistan
This attack comes amid a rising wave of militant violence in Pakistan, particularly since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. While the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the primary target, Balochistan, which borders both Afghanistan and Iran, has also experienced increasing unrest.
Earlier this year, the federal government launched Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a renewed counter-terrorism initiative under the National Action Plan, aimed at eliminating militant threats across the country.
Conclusion
The tragic coal mine attack in Balochistan’s Duki district highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by the region. With protests spreading and a shutter-down strike in place, the people of Balochistan demand swift justice and stronger measures to prevent such attacks in the future. As authorities search for those responsible, the nation mourns the loss of 20 miners who fell victim to this senseless act of violence.
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