A massive explosion rocked the vicinity of the bustling Karachi Airport, claiming the lives of two Chinese workers and leaving at least eight others injured, according to officials from both countries. The powerful blast, stemming from a tanker explosion, sent shockwaves through the area surrounding Pakistan’s largest airport.
The attack happened at about 11:00 p.m. local time on Sunday when a convoy from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked by terrorists near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, the capital city of the country’s south Sindh province, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and injuries to another Chinese individual, the Chinses embassy said in a statement. It also acknowledged the impact of the explosion on Pakistani individuals.
Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) said in a statement that it had “targeted a high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors” coming from Karachi’s airport. In a statement emailed to press, BLA claimed the explosion was an attack carried out by them using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeting Chinese nationals, including engineers.
The regional government of southern Sindh province said on social media site X that a tanker had exploded on the airport motorway.
The Chinese statement called the explosion a “terrorist attack” and said that China was working with Pakistan to handle the aftermath. It called for a thorough investigation to punish the perpetrators and reminded Chinese citizens in the country to take safety precautions.
“The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist act, express deep condolences to the victims of the two countries, and extend sincere condolences to the injured and their relatives,” the statement said, adding that the Chinese side has been working with the Pakistani side to do their best to deal with the aftermath of the incident.
The embassy stressed that practical and effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Pakistan should be taken by the Pakistani side at the same time.
“The Chinese embassy and consulates in Pakistan remind Chinese citizens and companies in Pakistan to be vigilant, pay close attention to the local security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions,” said the statement.
The BLA has set its sights on Chinese interests, specifically honing in on the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea. They accuse Beijing of aiding Islamabad in exploiting the province and have gone so far as to target Chinese citizens working in the region and launch an attack on Beijing’s consulate in Karachi. It’s crucial to note that thousands of Chinese workers are currently in Pakistan, actively participating in Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which connects South and Central Asia with the Chinese capital.
Team BharatShakti (With inputs from Reuters)
