10 die as gunmen storm Chagai mining site

Armed men stormed a copper and gold mining site in Balochistan's Chagai district on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people, including a foreign worker, and torching machinery after a fierce exchange of fire with guards posted at the site, local officials said on Thursday.

Although there has been no formal confirmation from the Balochistan government, sources said the assault took place at the project operated by the National Resources Limited in the remote Darigun area, roughly 120 kilometres from Dalbandin.

They said the armed men stormed the facility in the evening, triggering panic among workers and security staff. Guards deployed at the site attempted to hold off the attackers, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire.

By the time security forces, including the Frontier Corps, arrived and secured the area, significant damage had already been done. Local authorities said the attackers set fire to key machinery, including drilling equipment and generators.

During the chaos, a fuel tank caught fire and exploded, trapping several workers and causing fatal burn injuries. Multiple vehicles were also taken as the assailants fled into the surrounding terrain. The victims were transported to Prince Fahd Hospital in Dalbandin.

Hospital sources said the victims belonged to different parts of the country, including Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. One of the deceased was identified as a Turkish national named Omer.

Security forces have launched a search operation in the mountainous area to track down those responsible. The company said it is working closely with authorities and focusing on the safety of remaining workers at the site.

In a statement, the mining company said the attack took place on Wednesday evening, adding that security forces, including the Frontier Corps, responded promptly, secured the area and launched a clearance operation.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the incident in a statement posted on X, saying the workers were "civilians and non-combatants, entitled under all circumstances to protection".

The HRCP maintained that the "deliberate targeting" was a violation of fundamental human rights. It called on the state to "conduct an immediate, transparent investigation, hold perpetrators accountable, and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of all civilians".