Heavy machinery, vehicles burned; later released two abductees, 18 still missing
Unidentified gunmen reportedly attacked a construction company’s camp in Khuzdar district and ‘abducted 20 workers’. The assailants also torched several vehicles and heavy machinery, causing extensive damage to the site.
Officials said the incident took place in the remote Kaleri area of Naal, about 80 kilometers from Khuzdar. Gunmen reportedly blocked the highway before storming the private company’s camp and crushing plant. The company had been working on a key road project connecting Khuzdar with Basima in Washuk district – part of Balochistan’s ongoing development plans.
According to Levies officer Ali Akbar, the attackers set fire to machinery and vehicles at the site and damaged at least eight, including heavy equipment and transport trucks. “The gunmen then took several workers with them,” he said, adding that most of the abducted workers came from Sindh province and had gone to Balochistan to work.
Manager Zulfiqar Ahmed of the D-Baloch construction company confirmed that the attackers initially kidnapped 20 workers and released two later. “18 workers are still missing,” he said. “The attack has seriously affected our operations and created fear among staff,” he said.
Read more: Nine workers abducted from construction site in Balochistan’s Mastung
Following the incident, security forces including Levies, Frontier Corps and Counter Terrorism Department launched a joint search operation. The authorities have cordoned off the area. Local tribal elders are extending all possible assistance to the agencies in their efforts to locate the missing workers. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and kidnapping of the workers.
Officials noted that armed Baloch insurgent groups have been active in the region and have previously targeted road construction projects and non-local workers, accusing them of representing outside interests.
This is the second major abduction of laborers in Balochistan within a week. A few days earlier, nine laborers were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Dasht area of Mastung district. With the latest incident, the total number of abducted workers this week has risen to 27.
The recent increase in violence has raised serious security concerns for companies and workers involved in development projects across the province. The Balochistan government has condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Local residents and analysts warn that such incidents undermine Balochistan’s fragile development process. They call on the authorities to implement a comprehensive security strategy to protect workers and ongoing infrastructure projects.
Investigations are underway and security forces are continuing search operations in the affected areas.
