Security forces repelled a major attack on a Reko Diq mining project convoy in Balochistan’s Chagai district on Monday, killing 12 assailants after a fierce exchange of fire that lasted more than two hours.
Ambush in Nokacha Area
Unidentified attackers intercepted a convoy of nearly three dozen empty project vehicles as it travelled from the Reko Diq mine site toward Quetta under security escort, opening heavy fire in the Nokacha area of Chagai district. Security personnel returned fire immediately, and the exchange continued for more than two hours before the attackers were overpowered.
Twelve armed assailants were killed in the operation, while two security personnel sustained injuries. No deaths were reported among mining staff or the security escort. Officials said arms, ammunition and heavy weapons were recovered from the slain attackers, indicating a well-planned assault on the high-value convoy.
CM Bugti Vows No Negotiations
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack and reaffirmed the provincial government’s hardline stance against militancy in the resource-rich region. “There will be no negotiations with those who take up arms against the state and shed the blood of innocent citizens,” he said, adding that intelligence-based operations against militant networks would continue and that those responsible would face legal consequences.
Reko Diq’s Strategic Importance
The Reko Diq copper and gold project is among the largest mining developments in Pakistan, and Balochistan has repeatedly emerged as a security flashpoint in recent years, with militant groups periodically targeting security forces, government installations and infrastructure projects across the province.
Security Response Continues
Officials from the Reko Diq project declined to comment on the incident, though authorities said the mine’s operations were not disrupted. The Frontier Corps and other security agencies maintain a heavy presence in Chagai district to protect the project, and Monday’s attack is expected to prompt a fresh review of convoy security protocols in the area.
Balochistan has seen a series of security incidents in recent months, and officials say curbing arms proliferation in volatile districts remains a top priority for provincial authorities.
