Bodies of six abducted labourers found

QUETTA:

Six labourers abducted from the Kalatak area of Balochistan's Kech district two days ago were found dead in Nasirabad on Thursday, according to government officials and local sources.

Balochistan Home Department Adviser Babar Yousafzai confirmed the recovery of the bodies, saying four of the victims were from Punjab and two from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According to local accounts, the labourers were on their way to a worksite when armed men intercepted them in the Kalatak area. A contractor from K-P, who had reportedly been living in Turbat for several decades, was accompanying the labourers.

The contractor was allegedly killed during the incident after resisting the attackers, sources said.

The bodies were later taken to Teaching Hospital Turbat, where post-mortem examinations were to be conducted. Arrangements were expected to be made for the bodies to be handed over to the victims' families following the completion of legal and medical procedures.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the killings and expressed grief over the loss of lives. He described the incident as an "inhuman" and "clear act of terrorism".

The chief minister said those responsible for the killings would be pursued and brought to justice, according to the provincial government.

The incident has once again highlighted security concerns faced by labourers and other civilians travelling to remote areas of Balochistan for employment. The recovery of the bodies has also raised concerns among families of workers who travel to the province from other parts of the country in search of livelihoods.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, while further details about the circumstances surrounding the abduction and killings are awaited.

Four terrorists killed

Security forces killed four terrorists and destroyed two explosives-laden vehicles during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan's Khuzdar district.

"On 30 July 2026, security forces conducted an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in Khuzdar District of Balochistan, on reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan, destroying two explosive-laden vehicles along with four terrorists," the ISPR said in a statement.

During the operation, movement of two explosives-laden vehicles configured as Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) along with terrorists was proactively intercepted, the statement added.

"After swift and prompt action by security forces, both vehicles were successfully destroyed along with neutralising four Indian-sponsored terrorists operating them."

The ISPR said that sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorist found in the area.

"Relentless counter terrorism campaign under the vision 'Azm e Istehkam' (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country," the statement read.

(With input from our Rawalpindi correspondent)