Pakistan, Oct 7 (Alliance News): Two Chinese nationals were killed and seven others injured in a suicide attack near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Sunday evening, marking the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting Chinese nationals and investments in Pakistan.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors working for an electric power company.
The blast, which set multiple vehicles ablaze, was heard throughout the city. According to rescue workers, one of the injured was also a Chinese national.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, offering condolences to the Chinese leadership and reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its Chinese partners.
The attack occurred just days before Pakistan is scheduled to host a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, further heightening concerns over security.
China’s embassy in Pakistan urged the Pakistani government to “take all necessary measures” to protect its citizens and projects, especially in light of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key Belt and Road initiative.
The BLA, a separatist group from the southwestern province of Balochistan, has been involved in several violent incidents targeting Chinese nationals, including previous attacks in Gwadar and Karachi.
This recent assault is part of ongoing tensions fueled by anti-China sentiment among separatist groups who feel excluded from the benefits of Chinese-funded projects.