Pakistan Separatist Militants BLA Deny Involvement in Mine Attack, Reports Reuters.

KARACHI (Reuters) – The Baloch Liberation Army, a militant separatist organization in Pakistan, has denied any involvement in an attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 21 mine workers, expressing condemnation for the violence.

On Friday, a large group of attackers invaded a cluster of private coal mines in Pakistan’s volatile southwestern region, armed with guns, rockets, and hand grenades. Many miners were killed in their sleep, while others were shot after being lined up.

In a statement sent via email on Saturday, the BLA condemned the killing of 21 Pashtun workers in Dukki and emphasized that their organization had no connection to this tragic event.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault on Junaid Coal Company’s mines, which are located in the mineral-rich province of Balochistan, near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.

This incident marks the most severe attack in weeks and comes just days before Pakistan is set to host a summit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an Eurasian group.

Balochistan has been the site of a prolonged insurgency by separatist militant groups, resulting in regular attacks against the government, military, and Chinese interests in the area, with the militants demanding a greater share of the province’s rich mineral resources.

In addition to separatists, the region is also home to Islamist militants who have resumed attacks since revoking a ceasefire with the government in 2022.

The BLA is the largest among several ethnic insurgent factions that have resisted the South Asian government’s authority for decades, contending that it unjustly exploits Balochistan’s abundant gas and mineral wealth.

The province is notable for significant mining endeavors, such as the Reko Diq project, overseen by Barrick Gold, which is considered one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines. Additionally, a Chinese company operates another gold and copper mine in the region.

At the time of the attack, a Saudi Arabian delegation, interested in acquiring a stake in the Reko Diq mine, was in Islamabad to discuss potential deals as Pakistan strives to recover from an ongoing economic crisis.