Blast near Karachi airport kills two Chinese nationals, Embassy urges Pakistan to enhance security

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed the deaths of two Chinese nationals in an explosion that occurred on Oct 6 night close to Karachi's international airport.

The attack was carried out by the militant separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

BLA said it targeted Chinese nationals, including engineers, with an explosive device mounted on a car. In addition to the two fatalities, around ten injuries were reported by the local news channel.

The explosion produced dense smoke clouds around it.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy criticized the attack and called for a thorough investigation as well as more robust security measures for Chinese nationals.

"The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack, express deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries, have sincere sympathies for the injured and their families, and are making every effort to handle the aftermath together with the Pakistani side," it said.

Additionally, the embassy urged its people residing in Pakistan to take caution.

"The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan have launched an emergency plan immediately, requesting the Pakistani side to thoroughly investigate the attack, severely punish the perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Pakistan,” the statement said.

“It reminds Chinese citizens, enterprises, and projects in Pakistan to be vigilant, pay close attention to the security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions," it added.

According to a statement from the Chinese embassy, the incident happened on Oct 6 night when a convoy carrying Chinese employees of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited was ambushed close to Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

Deputy Inspector General East Azfar Mahesar said, "The incident appeared to be an explosion involving an oil tanker. We are investigating the cause and circumstances of the blast, which will take some time." He added that a few police officers were also injured in the incident.

"We are determining if there was an element of terrorism involved, which cannot be ruled out at the moment," said Mahesar.

According to Department of Civil Aviation official Rahat Hussain, the explosion was strong enough to shake airport structures.

Provincial Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan claimed that the explosion targeted foreigners, saying, "Reports are suggesting that it was an IED explosion." He added that an inquiry had been launched into the incident.

In March, a suicide bomber crashed a car into a convoy carrying five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver, killing them all. The incident happened in northwest Pakistan.

Following the attack, the car fell into a ravine, highlighting the continuous danger to Chinese nationals employed on national infrastructure projects.

At present, thousands of Chinese laborers are in Pakistan, mostly as part of Beijing's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which connects the Chinese capital with South and Central Asia.

In recent months, there have been multiple incidents in Balochistan. In August, the coordinated attacks in the province claimed over 70 lives. The BLA still targets Chinese workers in Pakistan.