9 Killed in Militant Attack at Copper-Gold Mine in Pakistan’s Balochistan

At least nine workers were killed when armed militants attacked a copper and gold mining site in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province , police said on Thursday, in yet another violent strike in the region’s troubled mineral-rich belt.

The incident occurred at a mining project operated by National Resources Limited (NRL) in the Darigwan site of Chagai district in Balochistan on Wednesday evening, just as workers were finishing their shift , a senior police official said.

“It was a targeted attack carried out at a time when workers were winding up their shift,” the official said, adding that the attackers struck quickly before fleeing the area.

The bodies of the deceased were shifted to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin , officials said. Dalbandin is a key town in the mineral-rich region close to several major mining projects.

NRL confirmed the attack in a statement, though it did not immediately specify the number of casualties. The company said security forces, including the Frontier Corps, responded promptly, secured the site, and launched a clearance operation.

The firm also reiterated its commitment to local development and employment , stating that nearly 90 per cent of its workforce at the Darigwan project comprises people from Balochistan. It added that it remains focused on improving livelihoods and contributing to the province’s economy.

NRL has recently reported discoveries of copper, gold, lead, and zinc deposits in the area, making the site strategically significant.

Militant groups in Balochistan have previously targeted infrastructure and mining-related projects, often attacking workers many of whom come from other provinces fueling long-standing security concerns in the region.