A suspected suicide attack near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport has claimed the lives of two Chinese nationals and injured at least 10 others. The explosion, believed to have been carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in Sindh province.
The attack occurred around 11:00 PM local time on Sunday, with a third body, suspected to be the attacker, found at the scene. The BLA, which has previously attacked Chinese nationals involved in development projects, claimed responsibility and identified the attacker as Shah Fahad, a member of the Majeed Brigade, a BLA suicide squad. According to the militant group, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) was used in the attack.
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan condemned the incident, calling it a “terrorist attack” targeting its citizens. Thousands of Chinese workers are currently stationed in Pakistan, mainly involved in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which includes numerous infrastructure and energy projects. The Port Qasim power plant, where the engineers were involved, is part of this economic corridor.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the attack as a “heinous act” and expressed condolences to China, pledging that Pakistan would protect its Chinese partners and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The BLA, a separatist group, has a history of targeting Chinese nationals, particularly in Balochistan province, where it claims that local communities have been deprived of benefits from natural resources and foreign investments.
The explosion was reportedly heard across Karachi, and security forces have since sealed off roads leading to the airport. Injured individuals, including a police officer and a woman, were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College, with one person reported to be in critical condition.