Gunmen reportedly kill at least 20 workers at Pakistan dam construction site

Officials in southwestern Pakistan told The Associated Press that gunmen attacked a labor camp near a dam construction site on Saturday, killing at least 20 workers, many of whom were still sleeping when the shooting began.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but AP noted that Baluchistan province has struggled with clashes between separatist groups and Pakistani forces for years; Baluch supporters say Islamabad-backed troops have killed thousands of people from the province, while the Pakistani government claims it is merely cracking down on insurgents there.

The gunmen left eight guards — all of whom were from the Baluchistan province — alive. Many of the workers killed were from Punjab province; Baluch separatist groups have expressed frustration in the past over what they say is exploitation of Baluchistan by the more populous Punjab province.

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