Two Chinese nationals were killed Sunday night in an explosion near Karachi’s international airport, which the Chinese embassy in Pakistan has labeled a “terrorist attack.”
According to the embassy’s statement, the attack involved a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeting a convoy of Chinese engineers from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company.
The separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the blast, asserting that the attack was aimed at Chinese nationals. The BLA, which has long sought independence for Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, has a history of targeting Chinese interests, particularly in retaliation for Beijing’s investments in the region.
In its statement, the Chinese embassy strongly condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the victims and their families. “The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan express deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries and extend sincere sympathies to the injured and their families,” it said. The embassy noted that it is working closely with Pakistani authorities in response to the incident.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a third Chinese national was injured in the explosion and announced that an investigation is underway. “Pakistan stands committed to safeguarding our Chinese friends,” Sharif stated on the social media platform X. “We will leave no stone unturned to ensure their security and well-being.”
The attack occurs just as high-level Chinese officials are expected to attend an upcoming summit in Pakistan, which will also include the first visit by an Indian foreign minister in a decade. Authorities have pledged heightened security measures for the event.
Local broadcaster Geo News reported that at least 10 others were injured in the blast, though Karachi police have yet to provide additional details.
The BLA has repeatedly targeted Chinese interests in recent years, including the strategic port of Gwadar, a key element of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The separatist group accuses China of aiding Pakistan in the exploitation of Balochistan’s resources. In August, the BLA carried out coordinated attacks in the province, killing more than 70 people. The group has previously attacked China’s consulate in Karachi and has killed Chinese nationals working in the region.
China’s investments in Pakistan, particularly through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, have frequently been the target of militant attacks. In March, a suicide bombing killed five Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project in northern Pakistan. Although Pakistani authorities later arrested suspects linked to the Pakistani Taliban, the group denied involvement in that incident.
