Pakistan vows stern action against militants following killing of 21 coal miners

Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel on Friday strongly condemned the killing of coal miners in the province’s Duki area, calling it a "heartbreaking tragedy."

Unidentified gunmen lined up miners at a small private coal mine in Balochistan and shot them, police and media said, killing at least 21 and wounding six.

The attack early in the morning in the mineral-rich province of Balochistan that borders Afghanistan and Iran, is the worst in weeks and comes days ahead of the country hosting a summit of the Eurasian group Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

It also comes as Islamabad hosts a delegation from Saudi Arabia that is exploring mining deals in the South Asian country trying to recover from an economic crisis.

“The entire province is in mourning today,” said Mandokhail, flanked by provincial ministers. “The terrorists mercilessly killed those who were the backbone of their households.”

He offered prayers for the victims and expressed deep solidarity with their grieving families.

"Earlier, they (militants) used to say that people from Punjab should be killed, but now even our Pashtun brothers have been martyred," he said, adding that stern action will be taken against the terrorists.

Mandokhail highlighted the devastating loss of life and described the murdered workers as the sole breadwinners of their families.

Balochistan governor noted that the workers had previously been targeted based on ethnicity, but now, even local laborers are being targeted indiscriminately.

He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had called him earlier, expressing profound sorrow over the incident. The prime minister is expected to visit Quetta within the next two to three days to meet with the victims' families and show solidarity, he added.

“PM Shehbaz will personally console the families of the martyred workers,” said Mandokhail. “He has also promised to take swift action against the terrorists responsible.”

'India behind terrorism in Pakistan'

Provincial Minister Zahoor Buledi, who also addressed the press conference, condemned the killings in the strongest terms, referring to the attackers as "inhuman".

Buledi called the massacre an unforgivable act, vowing that the provincial government would spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“Those who killed these innocent workers are not human; they are beasts,” said Buledi. “This act of terror is beyond condemnation, and it must be met with a firm and decisive response.”

Buledi further claimed that India is behind the surge in terrorism in Pakistan, stating that the neighboring country is "fueling unrest" through various means. He called for a robust national security policy to curb cross-border terrorism and ensure the safety of citizens across the country.

“Terrorism has no religion, ethnicity, or humanity,” Buledi added, emphasizing that the provincial government would remain steadfast in its commitment to eradicating terrorism from Balochistan.

Recurrent attacks

Pakistan has seen a resurgence of militancy since 2022.

Two Chinese nationals working for a power plant were killed in an explosion near the international airport in Karachi city earlier this week.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of several insurgent groups battling the government, claimed responsibility for the attack.

BLA was also behind Balochistan's most widespread violence in years in August, when separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines, and highways, killing more than 70 people.

Armed men also killed seven people last month when they stormed a residence housing laborers from Punjab.