Two Chinese Nationals Killed In Suspected Suicide Attack Near Karachi Airport.
Karachi, Pakistan – Two Chinese nationals were killed and at least 10 people injured in a suspected suicide attack near Karachi airport late on Sunday night. The explosion targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in Sindh province, according to the Chinese embassy in Pakistan.
The blast, which occurred around 23:00 local time (17:00 GMT), is believed to have been carried out by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility. A third body, not yet officially identified, is thought to be that of the attacker.
The BLA has a history of targeting Chinese nationals involved in development projects in Pakistan, as part of their long-running insurgency in the resource-rich Balochistan province. In a statement, the group said the attack was aimed at a “high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors” arriving from Karachi airport. The group later confirmed the use of a “vehicle-borne improvised explosive device” and identified the attacker as Shah Fahad, a member of their suicide squad, the Majeed Brigade.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous act” and extending condolences to the Chinese people. “Pakistan stands committed to safeguarding our Chinese friends,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The country’s foreign ministry also pledged to “bring to justice those responsible for this cowardly attack” and described the incident as a strike not only on Pakistan, but on the strong ties between Pakistan and China.
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan expressed outrage over the attack, calling it a terrorist act and urging Chinese nationals in the country to remain vigilant. The convoy targeted was part of the Chinese-funded Port Qasim Power Generation Co Ltd, which is involved in the construction of two coal power plants near Karachi as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Thousands of Chinese workers are currently in Pakistan, working on various infrastructure and energy projects. However, militant groups such as the BLA have regularly targeted these workers, claiming that local ethnic Baloch residents have not benefitted from the wealth generated by foreign investment in their province.
The Chinese embassy has called on Pakistan to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible for the attack are severely punished.
