18 Workers Abducted as Armed Men Attack Construction Camp in Khuzdar

QUETTA: In a major security incident, unidentified armed men attacked a construction company’s camp in Khuzdar district of Balochistan, abducting 18 laborers and setting several vehicles and heavy machinery on fire.

According to officials, the attack took place late Thursday night in the Kaliri area of Nall, about 80 kilometers from Khuzdar. Dozens of armed men first blocked the highway to stop traffic and then stormed a private construction company’s camp and crush plant. The company was working on a key road project connecting Khuzdar to Basima in Washuk district, part of the province’s ongoing development initiatives.

Levis officer Ali Akbar said the assailants torched multiple vehicles and equipment, causing extensive damage to at least eight machines, including heavy transport vehicles. “The attackers abducted the laborers from the camp at gunpoint and fled the scene,” he said.

Most of the kidnapped workers are believed to be from Sindh province, who had traveled to Balochistan for employment. Zulfiqar Ahmed, the manager of D-Baloch Construction Company, confirmed the incident, saying initially 20 workers were taken away but two were later released. “Eighteen workers are still missing, and efforts are underway to recover them,” he added, noting that the attack has severely disrupted operations and created fear among employees.

Following the attack, security forces including Levis, Frontier Corps (FC), and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) launched a joint search operation in the area with assistance from local tribal elders. However, no trace of the abducted workers has been found so far, and no group has claimed responsibility for the assault.

The region has witnessed frequent attacks by Baloch militant groups who oppose government development projects and often target non-local laborers, accusing them of supporting state operations.

This is the second major abduction of workers in Balochistan within a week. Just days earlier, nine laborers were kidnapped from the Dasht area of Mastung district, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

The recent surge in violence has raised serious concerns about security in Balochistan, particularly for companies and workers engaged in development projects. The provincial government has condemned the incident and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, but local residents argue that a comprehensive security strategy is urgently needed to prevent such attacks in the future.