Have you ever heard of Balochistan? No?
It’s a small country within Pakistan, and it’s populated by people who have been brutally murdered, abused, and tortured by the Pakistani regime. And these people are mad about deals Pakistan signed with China that takes advantage of their historic land.
Now, Balochistan activists are fighting back with terror attacks.
At a glance:
- Two Chinese workers were killed in an explosion targeting a convoy near Karachi International Airport.
- The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted Chinese workers involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
- The incident occurred ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, with terrorism a key focus of the event.
Two Chinese workers were killed, and several others were injured in a devastating explosion outside Karachi International Airport on Sunday night. The blast, which targeted a convoy carrying Chinese employees from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company, is being labeled as a terrorist attack. This tragic incident comes just days before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad, where security and counterterrorism measures will be key topics of discussion.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan condemned the attack, expressing condolences to the victims and calling for a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. An unspecified number of Pakistani casualties were also reported.
The separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that its Majeed Brigade specifically targeted the convoy of Chinese engineers and investors. The BLA has been involved in a series of attacks on Chinese nationals in recent years, largely in opposition to projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crucial part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The CPEC project, which aims to link China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s Gwadar port, has been a focal point for Chinese investment in Pakistan since its launch in 2015. However, the initiative has faced significant opposition from separatist groups like the BLA, who view Chinese involvement as an encroachment on local resources.
The explosion, which occurred near Jinnah International Airport, was so powerful that it was reportedly heard across Karachi. Initial reports suggested that the blast could have been caused by an oil tanker explosion, but Sindh’s home minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar later said it was likely triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED).
Footage from the scene showed vehicles engulfed in flames as authorities rushed to the area. Paramilitary forces and police established a large security perimeter while investigators worked to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
This attack adds to a troubling pattern of violence targeting Chinese workers in Pakistan. Earlier this year, in March, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing five. In 2022, a similar attack near Karachi University claimed the lives of three Chinese tutors and a Pakistani driver.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan of failing to prevent cross-border terrorism, a claim the Taliban has denied. The Afghan Taliban has pointed to internal dissatisfaction within Pakistan as a possible cause of the ongoing violence.
With the upcoming SCO summit, where counterterrorism will be a central issue, this latest attack highlights the security challenges facing Pakistan as it grapples with both domestic and regional threats.