Armed attackers killed 20 miners and injured seven others at a small private coal mine in southwest Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The assailants broke into the miners’ quarters in Dukki district, gathered the workers, and opened fire. Most of the victims were from Pashtun-speaking regions within Balochistan, with three of the deceased and four of the injured being Afghan nationals.

The attackers used heavy weapons, including firing rockets and grenades at the mines. The incident has raised security concerns, coming just days before a major international summit in the country. Balochistan is known for armed movements, with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) being the most prominent, accusing the central government in Islamabad of exploiting the province’s resources to the detriment of the local population. No group has immediately taken responsibility for the assault.