Pakistan shooting: Gunmen killed 20 miners and injured seven others in Balochistan, Pakistan. The attackers targeted the workers’ accommodations at a coal mine.
Source: Hindustan Times
Gunmen killed 20 miners and wounded seven others in southwestern Pakistan, a police official reported on Friday. The attack occurred just days ahead of the SCO summit in the capital.
Police officer Hamayun Khan Nasir reported that the gunmen raided the workers’ accommodations at a coal mine in Duki district late Thursday night. They rounded up the men and then opened fire.
Most of the victims were from Pashtun-speaking regions of Balochistan, with three Afghans among the deceased and four others from Afghanistan injured in the attack.
Pakistan Hit by Shooting Attack Days Before SCO Summit
The incident occurred just days ahead of the high-profile Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, set to be held in Islamabad on October 16 and 17. The summit, chaired by Pakistan, is expected to host several heads of state, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Pakistan for the SCO summit on October 15, marking his first trip to the country. This will also be the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years, with Sushma Swaraj being the last to visit in December 2015.
To ensure heightened security, restaurants, wedding halls, cafes, and snooker clubs in Islamabad and Rawalpindi will be temporarily closed from October 12 to 16, according to ANI reports.
Were Balochistan Separatist Groups Behind the Attack?
Balochistan is home to several separatist groups that have long sought independence. These groups accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province’s rich oil and mineral resources while neglecting the welfare and rights of the local population.
On Monday, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Chinese nationals outside Pak largest airport.
Thousands of Chinese workers are currently in Pakistan, mainly engaged in projects related to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
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