The separatist also on Monday reportedly claimed responsibility for the late-night bombing targeting the Chinese convoy which was carrying Chinese nationals, UK’s Independent reports.
Chinese officials on Monday said that a Pakistani separatist group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), bombed its convoy near the country’s largest airport, Karachi Airport, killing two Chinese workers and injuring eight others.
The separatist also on Monday reportedly claimed responsibility for the late-night bombing targeting the Chinese convoy which was carrying Chinese nationals, UK’s Independent reports.
It was reported that the Baloch Liberation Army carried out the attack near the airport in Karachi, the southern port city, marking the latest deadly assault on Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
The attack comes a week before Pakistan is set to host a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security group led by China and Russia.
Initially, Pakistani authorities provided conflicting reports, with some suggesting the explosion might have been caused by an oil tanker. However, police later confirmed it was a bomb attack.
News footage reportedly showed cars engulfed in flames and thick smoke rising from the scene, with troops and police cordoning off the area.
By Monday, counterterrorism officials were investigating how the bomber managed to enter Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. Among the injured were police officers escorting the Chinese convoy at the time of the attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army’s spokesman, Junaid Baloch, was reported to have stated that a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors as they were leaving the airport.
The group, which is primarily based in the southwestern province of Balochistan, has previously attacked foreigners and security forces in other regions of Pakistan.
The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that the convoy was carrying employees of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company, a China-Pakistan joint venture.
Two Chinese nationals were killed, and one was injured. The embassy noted that there were also Pakistani casualties but did not provide further details.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the bombing, describing it as a “heinous terrorist attack near Karachi airport” and extended condolences to the families of both Chinese and Pakistani victims.
“We remain resolute in bringing to justice those responsible for this cowardly attack,” the ministry stated.
In a post on his X account, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed shock over the attack.
“Deeply shocked and saddened by last night’s tragic incident in Karachi, resulting in the loss of two precious Chinese lives & injuring another,” he said.
“I strongly condemn this heinous act and offer my heartfelt condolences to the Chinese leadership & the people of China, particularly the families of the victims. May the injured recover soon. The perpetrators of this dastardly incident cannot be Pakistanis but are sworn enemies of Pakistan.”
“An immediate investigation is underway to identify them and bring them to justice. Pakistan stands committed to safeguarding our Chinese friends. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure their security & well-being,” he added.
Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, is Pakistan’s largest but least populated province. It is home to an ethnic Baloch minority that claims to suffer from government discrimination and exploitation, fueling the separatist insurgency. Islamic militants also operate in the region.
https://www.independent.co.uk/