A deadly bombing in the Harnai district of Balochistan, southwestern Pakistan, has left at least 11 people dead and six others wounded. The attack targeted a truck carrying coal miners to a nearby mine when an improvised explosive device (IED), potentially activated remotely, detonated along the roadside. The truck was transporting 17 miners when the bomb exploded, according to local officials.
The explosion occurred in a region where Balochistan has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity. Separatist groups seeking independence for the Baloch people have been engaged in a decade-long insurgency in the area. Islamist militants are also known to operate in this volatile region, which shares borders with both Afghanistan and Iran.
Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene, and local hospitals reported that two of the six injured miners are in critical condition. However, no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which remains under investigation.
Balochistan is rich in natural resources, and coal mining has long been a significant industry in the area, despite the ongoing security challenges. The latest attack underscores the persistent risks faced by workers in the region, caught between local insurgent violence and broader geopolitical tensions.
The bombing is another stark reminder of the instability that continues to plague the mineral-rich province.
