A deadly explosion has killed two Chinese nationals and at least ten others injured near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed that the attack, believed to have been carried out using explosives, targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in Sindh province.
The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group known for its attacks on Chinese nationals, claimed responsibility for the assault.
The attack, which occurred around 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, was aimed at Chinese engineers and investors arriving from the airport, according to the BLA.
In a statement, the militant group revealed that the suicide bomber was part of the Majeed Brigade and identified the perpetrator as Shah Fahad. The BLA used a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device to carry out the attack.
The Chinese engineers were working on the Port Qasim Power Generation project, a coal-powered plant near Karachi.
This project is part of the broader China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which funds several infrastructure and energy initiatives across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan province.
The region, rich in natural resources, has been a focal point for Chinese investments, but local insurgent groups, including the BLA, have been hostile to these projects, accusing the government of failing to distribute the wealth fairly among Baloch residents.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar suggested that an improvised explosive device likely caused the explosion. Visuals from the scene showed vehicles engulfed in flames, with security forces and firefighters inspecting the damage.
The blast, heard across several areas of Karachi, caused widespread panic.
Following the attack, injured victims, including a police constable and a woman, were rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College. Dr. Summaiya, a police surgeon, confirmed that ten people had been admitted, with one in critical condition.
Security in Pakistan has been tightened ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation leaders’ summit, adding urgency to investigations into the incident.
The Chinese Embassy has issued a warning to its citizens and businesses in Pakistan, urging them to enhance safety precautions.
The embassy vowed to thoroughly investigate the attack and ensure that those responsible face justice.
The BLA has a history of targeting Chinese nationals, who they accuse of exploiting Balochistan’s resources without benefiting the local population.
In recent years, the group has claimed responsibility for several high-profile attacks on Chinese interests in Pakistan, including an assault on a naval airbase in March near the Gwadar port, another CPEC project.
This latest attack underscores the continued tensions between separatist groups in Pakistan and foreign investments, particularly in Balochistan, where Chinese infrastructure projects have been viewed with suspicion.
As Pakistan grapples with the aftermath of the blast, questions are being raised about the safety of foreign workers involved in development projects in the region.
The roads leading to Jinnah International Airport were temporarily sealed following the explosion, though the airport has since resumed normal operations.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the details of the explosion, but local law enforcement, alongside national security agencies, are conducting thorough investigations into the attack.
