Gunmen kill 20 In Balochistan Days Before SCO Summit

Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit next week, gunmen targeted Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Friday, killing 20 miners and injuring several others, police officials said.

Pakistan will host the SCO summit in Islamabad on October 15-16, at which Foreign Minister S Jaishankar will participate. The Pakistani government has announced increased security measures, with the army providing protection, as several heads of state are expected to attend and discuss key issues.

How were Balochistan’s miners targeted?

The most recent attack occurred late Thursday night at a coal mine in the Duki district, according to an official. The gunmen stormed the miners’ quarters, apprehended the men, and opened fire.

The victims were mostly men from Pashtun-speaking areas of Balochistan. Three of the 20 people killed were Afghan nationals. The attack injured at least seven people, and no group has yet claimed responsibility.
Balochistan is home to separatist organizations seeking independence. The tense region, rich in oil and minerals, has seen unrest from these groups, which claim that the Pakistani government exploits local resources at the expense of the region’s development.

This is the second attack this week, following an explosion claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army near Karachi’s international airport. Two Chinese nationals were killed in the explosion. Pakistan is home to thousands of Chinese nationals working on the multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

The suicide bombing has raised concerns about Pakistan’s ability to host high-profile events such as the SCO Summit.

Jaishankar, who represented India at the summit, had previously stated that he would not participate in any bilateral talks during his visit. India and Pakistan’s diplomatic relations have been strained since the 2016 Uri terrorist attack, in which four Jaish-e-Mohammad infiltrators killed 18 Indian soldiers.