In a tragic turn of events, a massive explosion erupted along a bustling road near the airport of Pakistan’s largest city, resulting in the loss of two Chinese nationals, as confirmed by Beijing’s embassy on Monday.
The attack was earlier claimed by a separatist militant group active in the region. A statement released by China’s embassy revealed that a convoy comprising Chinese personnel from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited endured an attack around 11 p.m., resulting in the death of two Chinese nationals and injuries to another individual. Tragically, there were also Pakistani casualties in the incident.
In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed ‘shock’ at the event in a statement issued on Monday, demanding that Pakistan reinforce its security measures to safeguard the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and protect Chinese citizens within the country.
The declaration stood firm, calling Pakistan and China ‘iron brothers’ and asserting that Pakistan’s security and law enforcement agencies would leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of the attackers and their accomplices. This heinous act, it vowed, would not remain unpunished.
Amidst rising tensions, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered their condemnation of the attack and committed to holding the culprits accountable. Shehbaz personally visited the Chinese embassy, pledging his unwavering oversight of the investigation.
‘Pakistan stands resolute in safeguarding our Chinese friends, and we will exhaust every option to ensure their security and well-being,’ Shehbaz assured.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, later claimed responsibility, stating that they had aimed at a ‘high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors’ departing from Karachi’s airport.