ALBAWABA- Nine Pakistani police officers were killed in a militant attack on a security checkpoint guarding the Mangi Dam construction site in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Tuesday, local authorities said.
The assault targeted a checkpoint protecting the strategic infrastructure project. Local official Abdul Qudus said nine officers were killed, while several others remain missing following the attack.
The Balochistan provincial government confirmed the fatalities but did not identify the attackers. No group has claimed responsibility for the assault.
Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, has long faced a separatist insurgency and recurring militant violence. Armed groups frequently target security personnel, government facilities, and major infrastructure projects in an effort to undermine state authority and disrupt economic development.
The Mangi Dam is part of Pakistan's broader strategy to expand water storage, improve irrigation, and strengthen energy infrastructure in the province. Authorities have designated the project as a key national development initiative and have deployed security forces to protect it.
The latest attack underscores the continuing security challenges in Balochistan despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations. Officials said security forces have launched search operations for the missing officers and opened an investigation into the attack.
