In a disturbing incident in the Kalat district on Monday, a bomb attack targeted a convoy of trucks transporting blaster copper, leaving eight individuals injured, including six security personnel. The attack occurred on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway in the Mangochar area as the convoy, consisting of 29 trucks from the Saindak copper project, was en route to Karachi.
Officials reported that the convoy was attacked when an improvised explosive device, planted by unidentified assailants near the Nadra office, detonated as a security vehicle passed by. The explosion was followed by a heavy exchange of gunfire that persisted for some time, resulting in injuries to the security team and a civilian truck driver.
A senior official from the Kalat administration confirmed the details, stating that the injured were promptly taken to the district hospital for treatment. Fortunately, no Chinese nationals were present in the convoy at the time of the attack. Traffic on the Quetta-Kalat highway was temporarily disrupted but later resumed after the area was deemed secure by authorities.
The Saindak copper-cum-gold project, operational for over two decades, was confirmed to be the target of the attack. A representative from MRDL, the company overseeing the project, stated that two individuals, including a truck driver, were injured in the gunfire and were subsequently transferred to Civil Hospital in Quetta for further medical attention.
In a related incident, a separate confrontation on the Quetta-Sibi Highway left two dead and three injured after a clash between security forces and militants. The violence, which included a blockade of the highway, resulted in the death of Farooq Kurd, a Quetta resident, who succumbed to his injuries on Monday. Security measures have since been intensified in the area to prevent further disruptions.
