Authorities in Balochistan are investigating a reported drone strike on a mining site in Chagai and an explosion on a railway track in Bakhtiarabad, while the government has simultaneously announced new security measures, including the installation of 2,900 surveillance cameras in Quetta.
In Chagai district, a mining company owner reported that labour accommodation at a mining site in the Posti Mokantok Zard Koh area was allegedly targeted in a drone strike. According to mine owner Malik Samiullah Notezai, several rooms were completely destroyed and equipment stored at the site was damaged.
He said the mine had been closed for approximately five months due to the security situation in the area, although machinery and other materials remained at the location. He called on authorities, including the Inspector General Frontier Corps (IGFC), to conduct a transparent investigation into the incident and determine the nature of the reported strike.
Chagai’s Superintendent of Police said authorities had also received reports of the alleged drone attack from various sources and that an investigation was underway. No official conclusion regarding the incident had been announced at the time of publication.
Separately, an explosion was reported late Monday night on a railway track within the jurisdiction of Bala Nari police station in Bakhtiarabad. Police said explosive material had apparently been planted on the track, damaging approximately six feet of railway line.
No casualties were reported in the blast, and no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incidents come amid continuing attacks on transport infrastructure and economic projects across parts of Balochistan. In recent months, railway lines, highways and mining-related facilities have increasingly featured in security-related incidents, particularly in areas where armed groups have opposed state-backed projects and strategic infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan government announced a major expansion of surveillance and policing measures in Quetta during a high-level security meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti.
According to an official statement, authorities approved the launch of the Quetta Integrated Security Project, under which 2,900 modern surveillance cameras will be installed across the capital city as part of the Quetta Green Digital Corridor initiative.
Officials told the meeting that the project aims to modernise policing and strengthen monitoring and response capabilities amid ongoing security challenges. The government also announced the establishment of new Quick Response Force stations in Quetta.
The meeting was informed that 871 police personnel had been dismissed as part of departmental accountability measures over allegations of absenteeism and negligence, while 1,005 officers previously assigned to various individuals had been reassigned to regular police duties.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Bugti directed authorities to provide police personnel with the training and resources required to respond to security threats.
The reported incidents in Chagai and Bakhtiarabad, together with the government’s decision to expand surveillance infrastructure in Quetta, come at a time when Balochistan continues to experience heightened security challenges, including attacks on transport networks, security installations and infrastructure projects, alongside intensified counterinsurgency measures by the state.