Seven miners were abducted after armed men reportedly raided a private copper mining camp in Chagai district.
QUETTA (Web Desk): Seven miners were abducted in Chagai after armed men stormed a private copper mining camp, taking workers hostage and escaping with vehicles and equipment.
The incident took place in the Mahian Kaur area of Chagai district, where the miners were working for a private copper mining company.
According to company officials, eight armed men arrived at the mining site on motorcycles and entered the workers’ camp. The attackers reportedly held the miners at gunpoint and remained inside the area for around seven hours.
The mine is located about 18 kilometres west of Chagai town.
Armed men take miners hostage
Officials said the attackers first took control of the camp and collected weapons from security guards. They also removed various items and equipment from the site before taking seven miners away at gunpoint. The workers reportedly had little opportunity to resist during the operation.
The abducted miners include four workers from Gilgit and three local residents from different parts of Chagai district. The workers from Gilgit were identified as Wajahat, Wajid Shahid and Sabir, while the fourth worker was also reported to be from the region. The three local workers were identified as Ziauddin from Dalbandin, Shah Saleem from Mahian in Chagai and Saeed Muhammad, also from Mahian.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of workers employed at remote mining sites in the district.
Vehicles, fuel and equipment also taken
The armed men reportedly spent several hours at the mining camp before leaving with the abducted workers.
Sources at the mine said the attackers also took vehicles and other equipment from the site. Among the items reportedly taken were a Zamyad truck and a four-wheel-drive pickup.
More than 20 solar panels were also taken from the mining camp, along with a motorcycle, bedding and kitchen equipment. The attackers reportedly removed large quantities of fuel from the site as well. Sources said around 2,500 litres of diesel and 1,500 litres of petrol were taken during the incident.
The operation reportedly continued for several hours without resistance before the attackers left the area with the workers and stolen property.
Authorities begin search operation
The incident was reported to the relevant authorities soon after the armed men left the mining site. Officials have started efforts to locate the seven abducted miners and recover the vehicles and other property taken from the camp. Further investigation is also underway to determine how the attackers entered the area and managed to remain there for several hours.
At the time of reporting, there was no confirmation that the abducted workers or the missing equipment had been recovered. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident as efforts continue to trace the workers. The remote location of the mining site may present additional challenges for the search operation.
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Security concerns in mining areas
The incident has highlighted security concerns for workers operating in isolated parts of Balochistan. Mining activities often take place away from major towns, where workers and facilities can be more difficult to protect. The abduction also involved the removal of vehicles, fuel and other essential equipment, potentially affecting operations at the site.
For the families of the missing workers, however, the immediate priority remains their safe recovery. Officials have not yet publicly identified those responsible for the attack, and no group has been mentioned as claiming responsibility in the available information. The investigation will determine the circumstances of the attack and whether the abductors had specifically targeted the mining operation.
