2 Chinese Nationals Killed in Karachi Blast, BLA Claims Responsibility

2 Chinese Nationals Killed in Explosion Near Karachi Airport
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack, which in recent years has targeted Chinese nationals in Pakistan.

At least two Chinese nationals were killed, and 10 others injured in a massive explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday, October 6.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed that the incident occurred at 11 PM (local time) when a tanker exploded outside Jinnah International Airport.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the injured and their families during this difficult time,” the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said in the statement.
“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan have launched an emergency plan, requesting the Pakistani side to thoroughly investigate the attack, severely punish the perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Pakistan,” the embassy added.

Following the incident, the banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the “suicide bombing” that targeted a “high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors” arriving from Karachi airport.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, in an interview with Geo News, confirmed that the explosion was caused by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED), in which a foreign national was also injured.

According to local media reports, the blast was heard across the city, with smoke seen rising from the scene. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Television footage showed smoke rising from the area, and a large fire visible on a road near the blast site. The explosion was reportedly heard in various parts of the city, including North Nazimabad and Karimabad.

The fire, which ignited after the explosion, spread, engulfing several vehicles near the airport, an area typically used by VIP protocol vehicles. The explosion occurred on the road leading out of the airport, as reported by journalists at the scene.

Earlier in March this year, five Chinese nationals and a local were killed in a suicide bombing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Chinese nationals have been involved in multiple projects across Pakistan, with China having invested billions in infrastructure as part of the Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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