Gulistan News Tv Desk
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) – At least 11 people lost their lives, and six others sustained injuries in a targeted bomb blast near a laborers’ vehicle in Harnai district of Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province on Friday, local authorities confirmed.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Harnai, Hazrat Wali, the explosion occurred in the remote Shahrag area, a coal mining hub, where an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the roadside was remotely detonated as the vehicle carrying workers passed by. The laborers were heading to a coal mine for work when the attack took place.
Following the blast, police, security forces, and rescue teams rushed to the scene, securing the area and shifting the deceased and injured to a nearby hospital. Hospital officials stated that at least two of the injured are in critical condition, requiring intensive medical attention.
Security forces have cordoned off the blast site and launched a search operation in the surrounding areas to track down the perpetrators. Authorities suspect that the attack was premeditated and executed by militants operating in the region.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long struggled with separatist insurgencies and militant activities, with coal miners and laborers often targeted in past attacks. Various insurgent groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have been known to carry out such attacks against security personnel, government officials, and civilians.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, the region has witnessed several similar bombings in recent years, raising concerns about the safety of workers in volatile districts like Harnai. In past incidents, coal miners have been targeted due to their association with state-backed industries, making them vulnerable to militant aggression.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his grief over the loss of innocent lives and strongly condemned the terrorist act.
“Those ruthless elements responsible for harming the lives and property of innocent and unarmed citizens will have to pay a very heavy price,” he said in an official statement. The prime minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to intensifying efforts to eliminate terrorism and safeguard citizens, particularly those working in vulnerable sectors.
As Pakistan continues its counterterrorism efforts, the attack in Harnai highlights the ongoing security challenges in Balochistan, where insurgent violence remains a persistent threat. Authorities are expected to tighten security measures in the region while investigating the perpetrators behind this brutal attack.
