Heavy machinery, vehicles burned; Two kidnapped people were later released, 18 are still missing.
Unidentified gunmen reportedly attacked the camp of a construction company in Khuzdar district and “kidnapped 20 workers.” The attackers also set fire to several vehicles and heavy machinery, causing extensive damage to the area.
Officials said the incident occurred in the remote Kaleri area of Naal, about 80 kilometers from Khuzdar. Armed men reportedly blocked the road before storming the private company’s camp and crushing plant. The company had been working on a key road project linking Khuzdar to 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 location, damaging at least eight, including heavy equipment and transport trucks. “The gunmen then forcibly took away several workers,” he said, adding that most of the kidnapped workers were from Sindh province and had gone to Balochistan for work.
Manager Zulfiqar Ahmed of the D-Baloch construction company confirmed that the attackers initially kidnapped 20 workers and released two later. “Eighteen workers are still missing,” he said. “The attack has severely affected our operations and created fear among staff,” he mentioned.
Read more: Nine workers kidnapped at a construction site in Mastung, Balochistan
Following the incident, security forces including the Excise, Border Corps and Anti-Terrorism Department launched a joint search operation. The authorities have cordoned off the area. Local tribal elders are providing all possible assistance to agencies in their efforts to locate the missing workers. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack and the kidnapping of the workers.
Officials noted that armed Baloch insurgent groups have been active in the region and have previously attacked road construction projects and non-local workers, accusing them of representing outside interests.
This is the second major kidnapping of workers in Balochistan in a week. Just a few days earlier, nine workers were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the Dasht area of Mastung district. With the latest incident, the total number of workers kidnapped this week has increased to 27.
The recent increase in violence has raised serious security concerns for businesses and workers involved in development projects across the province. The Balochistan government condemned the attack and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Local residents and analysts warn that such incidents undermine Balochistan’s fragile development process. They urge authorities to implement a comprehensive security strategy to protect workers and ongoing infrastructure projects.
Investigations continue and security forces continue search operations in the affected areas.
