At least two Chinese citizens were killed, and a third was injured after their convoy was attacked near Karachi airport. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed the attack occurred around 11 p.m. on Sunday, near Jinnah International Airport. The victims were employees of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company. The blast injured at least 10 people.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy condemned the “terrorist attack.” It urged Pakistani authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, punish the attackers, and enhance security for Chinese nationals, institutions, and projects in Pakistan.
BLA Claims Responsibility
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group used an improvised explosive device (IED) to target the convoy. The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, a province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, and has a history of violent attacks, especially against Chinese interests. The Pakistani government has banned the group.
Senator Faisal Vawda’s Cryptic Message Fuels Speculation Amid PTI Protests
Rescue official Hassaan Khan told Dawn.com that the explosion damaged 10 vehicles, destroying four cars completely.
Frequent Targets
The BLA has frequently targeted Chinese projects, accusing Beijing of supporting Pakistan’s exploitation of Balochistan’s resources. Recent attacks by the group include the killing of seven barbers in Gwadar and the deaths of several people in highway abductions. In March, five Chinese engineers were killed near the Dasu hydropower project. In 2021, nine Chinese engineers died in a similar attack.
The Chinese Embassy urged its citizens and businesses to remain vigilant and strengthen security measures. The attack comes just two weeks before Pakistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, raising concerns about security for foreign nationals in the country.
Follow us on Google News, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook,Whats App, and TikTok for latest updates