Two Chinese nationals were killed, and at least 10 others injured, in a suspected suicide bombing near Karachi airport, Pakistan. A third, yet to be identified, is believed to be the attacker.
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan condemned the blast, calling it a “terrorist attack” targeting a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in Sindh province. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group, claimed responsibility, stating they aimed at a high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors.
According to the BLA, the attack was carried out using a vehicle-borne explosive device and involved Shah Fahad, a member of their Majeed Brigade suicide squad. The explosion occurred around 11:00 PM local time on Sunday. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, called it a “heinous act,” reaffirming the nation’s commitment to protecting its Chinese partners.
The Chinese workers were involved in the Port Qasim Power Generation Co Ltd project, part of the broader China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This attack is the latest in a series of assaults on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, mostly by the BLA, which opposes Chinese development in Balochistan, claiming local populations are not benefiting from the province’s natural resources.
Following the blast, the Chinese embassy urged citizens to exercise caution and called for a thorough investigation. Security measures around Karachi were heightened, particularly ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Footage of the incident showed thick smoke and burning vehicles, with several victims rushed to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where one person remains in critical condition.
The BLA has been responsible for multiple attacks on Chinese nationals, including an April 2022 suicide bombing near Karachi University that killed three Chinese tutors.
Also Read
