Two Chinese citizens were killed while at least 10 others were injured in a suspected suicide blast near Karachi airport in Pakistan.
A third body has also been recovered, which is believed to be that of the attacker.
This attack has happened when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit is going to be held in Pakistan on 15th and 16th October. India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is also going to participate in this summit.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said the blast on Sunday night was a “terrorist attack” targeting a caravan of Chinese engineers working on an energy project in Sindh province.
The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been attacking Chinese nationals involved in development projects in Pakistan in recent years, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hussain Haqqani, former ambassador of Pakistan to America, tweeted on the death of Chinese citizens and said, “In 1995, terrorists had killed American diplomats in Karachi. Chinese engineers were targeted last night. In these 29 years, Pakistan has failed to control terrorists and armed groups.
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What did Pakistan say?
In a statement issued on Monday, the extremist group said it “targeted a high-level caravan of Chinese engineers and investors coming from Karachi Airport.”
Later the group said that it was a suicide attack and named the attacker as Shah Fahad, who was from BLA’s suicide squad Majeed Brigade.
News agency Reuters quoted BLA as saying, “The attack was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED) in the vehicle.”
This attack happened around 23.00 on Sunday.
Reacting to the attack, the Prime Minister of Pakistan said, “The tragic incident that took place in Karachi last night has brought deep shock and sorrow. Two precious Chinese lives were lost in this incident and many others were injured. I condemn this heinous act and express my condolences to the Chinese leadership, Chinese citizens, especially the families of the deceased. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
“The perpetrators of this cowardly incident cannot be Pakistanis but staunch enemies of Pakistan. Immediate investigation has been started to identify the criminals and bring them before the law. Pakistan is ready for the security of our Chinese friends. We will leave no stone unturned in their safety and well-being.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it was “in touch with Chinese authorities” and that “those responsible for this dastardly attack will be punished as per the law.”
According to the ministry, “This terrorist attack has not only happened on Pakistan, but also on the friendship between Pakistan and China. Those responsible for this barbaric act will not be spared.”
What did china say
The Chinese Embassy issued a statement saying that these engineers were working on the Chinese-funded project Port Qasim Power Generation. Ltd. Were part of.
Under this project, two coal-fired power plants are being built at Qasim Port near Karachi.
On Monday, the Chinese Embassy issued an advisory to its citizens and Chinese companies to take more precautions and “be alert about security”.
The embassy said it hoped Pakistan would investigate the attack and “severely punish the killers.”
According to the statement, the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Pakistan have immediately launched an emergency plan and Pakistan has been asked to take strict action in this matter and take necessary measures to protect Chinese citizens, institutions and projects present in the country. .
There are thousands of Chinese workers in Pakistan, most of whom are involved in the construction of economic corridors between the two countries under Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative project.
Port Qasim is also part of this corridor along with several infrastructure and energy projects in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
This province is full of natural resources. Gas and minerals are present in sufficient quantity here.
The BLA along with other tribal Baloch groups have been waging a long armed struggle demanding a separate country.
BLA has continuously targeted Chinese citizens present in this area. He claims that tribal Baloch citizens are not getting their share in the earnings from foreign investment and exploitation of natural resources in the province.
How powerful was the explosion
The explosion was so strong that its sound was heard far in the city. Footage from some local media shows a dense cloud of smoke and burning cars.
Online pictures show that security officials and firefighters are investigating after reaching the blast site and several burnt vehicles are visible there.
Dr Sumaiya, a police surgeon, told Dawn News, “Ten people have been injured, one of whom is in critical condition. All of them have been brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College.”
He said that among the injured was a police constable and a woman.
A statement has been posted on Twitter by the Sindh Home Ministry, in which it has been said that there was an explosion in a tanker truck on Airport Road.
The road leading to Jinnah International Airport has been closed, but airport operations remained normal on Monday.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting is going to be held in Pakistan and many top leaders are going to attend it, due to this also the security arrangements have been tightened.
In recent years, there have been many attacks on Chinese citizens in Pakistan. The BLA has claimed responsibility for most of these attacks, including the attack on the Pakistani Navy airbase near Gwadar Port in March.
Gwadar Port is also part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Chinese citizens on target
In April 2022, the BLA carried out a suicide bombing near the Confucius Institute of Karachi University, killing three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver.
In November 2018, armed men attacked the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, killing at least four people.
According to the news of China’s state newspaper Global Times, in March 2024, five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani citizen were killed in a suicide bomb attack near the Chinese-funded Dasu Hydropower Project.
After this attack, Pakistan had further tightened the security arrangements.
In the year 2021, 9 Chinese engineers were killed in a similar suicide attack near Dasu.
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