At least 10 people were injured after a convoy belonging to Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked near Karachi Airport.
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan said that at least two of its citizens were killed and a third was injured after their convoy was attacked near Karachi airport.
The embassy said that the attack occurred around 11 pm on Sunday (18:00 GMT) near Jinnah International Airport, and targeted Chinese employees of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company.
Pakistan’s Geo News reported that at least ten people were injured.
The Chinese embassy said in the statement early Monday that it strongly condemned the “terrorist attack” and requested “the Pakistani side to thoroughly investigate the attack, severely punish its perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and Chinese institutions.” And projects in Pakistan.
Rescue official Hassan Khan told Dawn.com that 10 vehicles were damaged in the fire caused by the explosion, and four cars were completely destroyed.
In a statement emailed to reporters earlier, the armed group Balochistan Liberation Army said it was behind the attack in which an improvised explosive device was used.
The Balochistan Liberation Army wants independence for Balochistan and is part of a broader insurgency in Pakistan’s largest and least populated province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan.
It has been banned by the government in Pakistan.
In August, the Balochistan Liberation Army launched coordinated attacks in the province, killing more than 70 people. It has claimed responsibility for attacks in Balochistan, including the killing of seven barbers in Gwadar in May, and the killing of several people kidnapped from a highway in April.
The Balochistan Liberation Law specifically targets Chinese interests – especially the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea – accusing Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit the province.
In March this year, five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani national were killed in an attack near the Chinese-backed Dassault hydropower project. Nine Chinese engineers were killed in a similar attack near Dasu in 2021.
The Balochistan Liberation Army also attacked Beijing’s consulate in Karachi.
The Port Qasim project includes the construction of two power plants near Karachi, funded by China.
The Chinese embassy’s statement called on its citizens, companies and projects to “exercise vigilance, pay close attention to the security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions.”
Pakistan is scheduled to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in two weeks.
