A police constable was injured after banned BLA terrorists reportedly opened fire on a mining site near Diwana Shah in the Dareji sub-tehsil of Hub district, following a refusal by a contractor to pay extortion money, according to local sources.
The attackers targeted the mining site after the contractor declined to meet an extortion demand. According to the sources, the terrorists opened fire at the site before leaving the area. A police constable deployed for security duties was injured in the attack and was subsequently shifted for medical treatment.
Police and security personnel moved to the area shortly after the incident and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. The area was also placed under security measures as authorities worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident highlights the security pressures facing mining and other commercial activities in Balochistan, where terrorists groups have repeatedly targeted businesses, contractors, transport operators and development-related activity. Extortion has been reported as one of the mechanisms used by terrorists groups to generate funds and exert pressure on businesses operating in areas affected by terrorism.
The latest attack is also significant in the context of recent violence in the wider Hub-Dureji area. On September 28, an armed group reportedly targeted a bank in Dureji, with police responding to the incident and pursuing the attackers. The incident was reported as part of a broader pattern of attacks affecting commercial and economic activity in Balochistan.
The targeting of a mining site adds another dimension to the security challenge.
Mining is an important part of Balochistan’s economy, while the province contains substantial mineral resources and several major mining and mineral-development projects. Security concerns around mining areas can affect contractors, workers, transport routes and investment activity.
Balochistan has witnessed a series of attacks against economic infrastructure and commercial targets during 2026. In August, an attack on a mineral convoy near the Reko Diq project area resulted in an exchange of fire between security personnel and attackers, with provincial authorities reporting that 12 attackers were killed.
The Reko Diq project is among the province’s major copper and gold mining developments and has received heightened security attention because of its location in an insurgency-affected region.
The latest incident near Dareji therefore comes amid a broader security environment in which armed groups have sought to disrupt commercial activity and target infrastructure in different parts of Balochistan.
For businesses operating in remote areas, attacks linked to extortion can create additional security and financial pressures. Contractors may face demands for money, while workers and police personnel deployed to protect commercial sites can also become targets.
The injured constable was receiving medical treatment, while police and security personnel continued their search operation in the area. Further details about the extent of damage to the mining site, the identity of the attackers and any arrests were not immediately available.
