Two Chinese nationals were killed, and 10 others injured, in a massive explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday, October 6. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group known for targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it a “suicide bombing” aimed at a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors arriving from the airport.
According to Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, the blast was caused by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED). The explosion occurred around 11 pm local time, and residents across Karachi reported hearing the blast and seeing smoke billowing from the area. Television footage showed vehicles ablaze near the airport, an area commonly used for VIP protocol.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan expressed condolences to the victims and urged Pakistani authorities to take stronger measures to protect Chinese citizens and projects in the country. This attack follows several other incidents targeting Chinese nationals involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Earlier this year, a similar attack in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed five Chinese nationals and a local worker.
