Pakistani separatists bomb Chinese convoy near Karachi airport

A Pakistani separatist group, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has taken accountability for a bombing that killed two Chinese workers and wounded eight others near Karachi airport late Sunday night.

The attack, targeting a group of Chinese engineers and investors, took place as they were leaving the airport and is believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber. Pakistani authorities confirmed that the bombing was not an accident, following initial conflicting reports about the explosion. 

This latest assault comes just a week before Pakistan is set to host a summit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a security group established by China and Russia to challenge Western alliances, raising concerns about the country’s ability to ensure the safety of foreign nationals and secure high-profile events.

The BLA, which seeks independence for the southwestern Balochistan region, has a history of targeting both Pakistani security forces and Chinese nationals, especially those involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. 

Among the wounded were several police officers escorting the Chinese convoy. Pakistani news channels broadcasted footage of burning vehicles and thick smoke rising from the site while security forces cordoned off the area. On Monday, counterterrorism officials were investigating how the attacker managed to reach Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city.

A history of targeting Chinese workers

The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that two Chinese nationals were killed and one injured and noted that Pakistani casualties were also involved. The convoy was associated with the Port Qasim Electric Power Company, a China-Pakistan joint venture.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and pledging to bring those responsible to justice. 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the bombing, describing it as a “heinous act” and vowed that Pakistan would ensure the safety of its Chinese partners.

The BLA, which has around 3,000 fighters, has previously targeted Chinese nationals and infrastructure projects in Pakistan, viewing them as explosive. 

Security measures had been in place before the attack, with a police bomb disposal unit cleaning the route for the convoy, although the road was not closed to avoid disruptions to airport traffic. Despite these efforts, the attacker succeeded in reaching the convoy. 

The BLA has a history of high-profile attacks, including a 2018 assault on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi and various other bombings targeting Chinese workers.

Analysts believe further attacks around the upcoming summit cannot be ruled out, as the BLA continues to oppose Chinese involvement in Balochistan, a region rich in resources but rife with separatist tensions and militant activity.