© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Two Chinese nationals were killed in a blast near Paskistan’s Karachi airport on Sunday night, which the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has described as a “terrorist attack.”
Pakistani broadcaster Geo News reported that at least ten people were injured in the explosion.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said, “At around 11 pm on October 6th, a convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited was attacked near the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, which caused two Chinese to die, one Chinese to be injured, and some local casualties.”
“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack, and express deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries,” it said.
As reported by the news agency Reuters, the separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the explosion in a statement emailed to journalists.
They stated that the attack was carried out using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeting Chinese nationals, including engineers.
Local police and provincial officials confirmed that a tanker exploded near Pakistan’s largest airport, located in Karachi, which falls under Sindh province.
The Chinese Embassy has called for a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice and has reminded Chinese citizens in Pakistan to exercise caution regarding their safety.
In August, the BLA executed coordinated attacks in Balochistan province, resulting in over 70 deaths.
The group has also claimed responsibility for previous attacks in the region, including the killing of seven barbers in Gwadar in May and the abduction and killing of several individuals from a highway in April.
Thousands of Chinese workers are currently in Pakistan, many involved in Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to develop major infrastructure projects to enhance global trade routes.
The Port Qasim plant is a joint venture developed by Power China Resources Limited and Qatar’s Al-Mirqab Capital, with a total investment of USD 2.085 billion.
It represents the second major energy project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key component of the BRI.
