Pakistani authorities have recovered a Turkish national who was abducted two months ago in Balochistan province, a senior government official confirmed on Saturday. The man, identified as Salih Guljamal, was safely repatriated to Turkiye after legal formalities.
Abduction and Attack on Mining Site
Guljamal, a drilling operator employed by National Resources Limited (NRL), a mining company operating in Balochistan’s mineral-rich Chaghi district, was kidnapped by dozens of armed men on April 23. The abduction followed a coordinated attack on the mining site that resulted in the deaths of 10 people. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Recovery Operation
The Turkish national was recovered six days ago from Killin Passand Khan, a mountainous area located approximately 80 kilometers from Mastung city, according to a senior government official in Mastung who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The abducted Turkish national was recovered six days ago from Killin Passand Khan… The Turkish national was later shifted to Quetta and after legal formalities he safely departed to Turkiye and has now rejoined his family,” the official told Arab News on Saturday. The official did not specify whether Guljamal was freed during a security operation or released by his captors.
Context of Insecurity in Balochistan
Balochistan, which has been the site of a long-running insurgency, has frequently witnessed kidnappings and attacks targeting foreign nationals, infrastructure projects, security forces, police, and non-native Pakistanis. The recovery comes days after an officer of Pakistan’s Airport Security Force (ASF), kidnapped a month ago, was found dead in Balochistan’s Kalat district. Muhammad Waseem, 58, from Karachi, was kidnapped by armed men on the Quetta-Karachi highway on May 23 while traveling to Quetta.
Last month, four staffers of the University of Gwadar, including the vice chancellor, were kidnapped from Balochistan’s Mastung district by unidentified men. The kidnappers later released them.
