Pakistan: Two Chinese nationals were killed and at least ten others injured after an explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, on 6th October. The blast near Karachi Airport occurred around 23:00 local time (17:00 GMT) and is considered to have been generated by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED).
The attack targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in Sindh province, according to the Chinese embassy. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the blast near Karachi Airport. In a statement, the BLA confirmed it had “targeted a high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors” and recognised the attacker as Shah Fahad, a member of its Majeed Brigade suicide squad.
This latest act of roughness comes as part of the BLA’s ongoing insurgency against Chinese interests in the region, with the group accusing foreign investors of manipulating local resources at the expense of Baloch residents.
The convoy was transporting engineers from Port Qasim Power Generation Co Ltd, a Chinese-funded enterprise working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project involves the construction of two coal power plants near Karachi and is part of Beijing’s broader Belt and Road Initiative. The BLA has often targeted Chinese nationals linked to CPEC infrastructure projects, claiming that Baloch locals do not benefit from the economic investments in the region.
Security officials sealed off roads leading to Jinnah International Airport, but the airport remains functional. Among the hurt are a police constable and a woman, with some victims transported to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College for treatment. Authorities have strengthened security in the area, with Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar indicating that the explosion was likely caused by an IED. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage and casualties.
In light of the incident, the Chinese embassy urged Chinese citizens and enterprises in Pakistan to remain vigilant and execute safety measures. It also vowed to thoroughly investigate the attack and seek justice for the victims.
The BLA, which has been battling for a separate homeland in the resource-rich province of Balochistan, has a history of targeting Chinese nationals. The group was accountable for multiple attacks in recent years, including a suicide bombing in April 2022 that killed three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver near Karachi University’s Confucius Institute. This attack adds to the growing security concerns for Chinese workers in Pakistan as the country prepares to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders’ Summit.
As security forces continue to investigate the explosion, Pakistan and China’s close economic ties through the CPEC remain under threat from ongoing insurgent activity in Balochistan.
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