Pakistan Boosts Saindak Mine Security Amid Attacks

Balochistan – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Pakistan has tightened Saindak mine security after a string of attacks disrupted supply routes leading to the Chinese-run copper and gold project in Balochistan. The move comes days after reports suggested the mine could face a shutdown, a claim the operator has firmly denied.

Saindak Metals Limited’s managing director, Raziq Sanjrani, called the shutdown report factually incorrect. He said the mine has worked without a single break for 25 years and there is simply no chance of it closing now.

The real issue, he explained, was transport. Some drivers had refused to carry furnace oil to the site because certain routes through Balochistan had become unsafe. This forced the company to ask Pakistani authorities for direct help in moving fuel supplies to the mine.

Sanjrani added that security agencies have already promised full support. Their goal is to keep furnace oil supplies moving smoothly, without any more delays or risks along the way.

Government Steps In on Pakistan China Mine Security

State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry confirmed that Islamabad received the company’s concerns in early July. He said the government acted quickly, ordering all relevant agencies to increase their presence around the mine’s buildings, staff, and cargo routes.

“We have directed the provincial authorities and all concerned security agencies to beef up deployment for all of their installations, personnel, logistics and transportation,” Chaudhry told Reuters.

He also stressed that protecting foreign-run projects is a top priority for the government. Extra security will now be provided for all logistics and cargo shipments heading to the site.

Why Balochistan Chinese Mine Matters

Balochistan sits along Pakistan’s border with Iran and Afghanistan. The province is home to several major Chinese-backed projects, including the strategic Gwadar deep-water port. Because of its location and value, security in this region has long been a sensitive topic for both Islamabad and Beijing.

The Financial Times first reported that Saindak’s managing director had warned Pakistan’s energy ministry that operations could turn unsustainable within a month if supply route problems continued. That warning appears to have triggered the government’s fast response this week.

The Saindak mine itself is run by the state-owned Metallurgical Corporation of China, under a lease that was extended back in 2022. Most of the mine’s output is shipped directly to China, making it an important link in the two countries’ economic ties.

Responding to the situation, China’s foreign ministry said it was not yet fully aware of the details. However, it confirmed that Beijing will continue working closely with Pakistan to protect Chinese citizens, projects, and institutions across the country.

For now, both the government and the mine operator appear focused on the same goal: keeping supply routes open and ensuring day-to-day operations continue without interruption. With added security measures in place, officials hope the recent unrest will not affect one of Balochistan’s longest-running industrial projects.