Over the night of October 6, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack took place outside Karachi airport, targeting a Chinese convoy. Two Chinese citizens were killed in the attack on a convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited in Pakistan, as confirmed by the Chinese Embassy. The Embassy in its statement strongly condemned the terrorist attack, expressing condolences to the victims from both countries, sympathies to the injured and families, and said that they are working closely with Pakistani authorities to manage the situation. The initial investigation by the police and bomb disposal squad suggests that around 80 kilograms of commercial explosives were deployed in a vehicle-borne suicide bombing in Karachi, Sindh province, Pakistan, targeting a convoy of Chinese engineers. The attack resulted in damage to twelve vehicles, with three of them completely destroyed. 

Four individuals injured in the last evening Karachi attack are receiving care at South City Hospital, Karachi under the supervision of Dr. Samiullah.

Wu Chuanxin is being treated for a rib fracture, facial and hand burns, and a foot fracture. Raja Sher suffered facial burns and a cheek laceration. M. Umer has a lip laceration, hand burns, and an arm fracture. Mr. Habibullah is being treated for an ear laceration and chest pain. 

According to hospital officials, all patients are stable and receiving morphine for pain management and IV fluids.

The attack has raised concerns about the security situation in the region and the safety of Chinese nationals traveling in Pakistan. Meanwhile, the proscribed Baloch armed group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in a statement has claimed the attack and said one of its suicide attackers Shah Fahad Baloch alias Aftab of the Majeed Brigade is behind the attacks. The source of The Khorasan Diary (TKD) said that the attacker was from the Noshki district of Balochistan.

Potential Attempt to Sabotage SCO

Experts believe that as Pakistan is gearing up to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Council of Heads of Government on October 15-16 in Islamabad the BLA’s recent bombing can be seen as an attempt to sabotage and undermine the conference. “BLA has been targeting Chinese interests, projects, and nationals in Balochistan, and Karachi since 2018. It is a continuation of that. It's a huge security failure and alarming in the sense that ahead of a big conference, an attack of this magnitude happened and that can undermine the image of Pakistan and its ability to provide foolproof security to foreign delegates,” believed Abdul Basit, a Senior Associate Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore. 

Adnan Aamir, the Pakistan correspondent of Nikkei Asia, based in Islamabad hails from Balochistan told The Khorasan Diary that the recent BLA attack in Karachi targeting Chinese nationals will undoubtedly raise security concerns for foreign leaders attending the upcoming SCO Heads of Government meeting. “While I don't believe the meeting will be postponed, as it's scheduled to take place in Islamabad, where the government has the resources to ensure safety,” Amir said.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has been vocal about seeking independence and control over local resources, fueling their insurgency against the Pakistani government. Furthermore, by targeting Chinese interests in Balochistan, the BLA is demonstrating its contender to what it sees as China exploiting the region's resources, leading to deadly attacks that have resulted in many losses.

Targeting Pakistan’s Reviving Economic Investment 

“From an economic standpoint, this attack is likely to prompt China to further reduce in-person visits to Pakistan, negatively impacting economic engagement. Moreover, it may delay new Chinese investments until Pakistan can implement more robust security measures to protect Chinese citizens, something it has struggled to do effectively so far." said Adnan Amir

According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was powerful and shook the surrounding area, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Emergency rescue services quickly rushed to the scene to attend to the injured persons. The Pakistani authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the perpetrators and their motives. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar had initially suggested that an IED blast caused the explosion, while Deputy Inspector General (East) Capt (retd) Azfar Mahesar stated that further investigations were needed to confirm the exact cause. Lanjar also mentioned that the explosion occurred as a convoy of foreign nationals was passing through the area.

“It will undermine the Pakistani state's efforts to revive the economy by inviting foreign investors. Pakistan just secured a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and now it was eyeing the SCO submit to unlock the doors for foreign investor investors. But this attack is going to undermine those efforts. It's a huge security failure. It is sad and it is alarming.” emphasized Abdul Basit

Rise of Suicide Attacks by BLA

Previously, the group conducted at least four suicide attacks in various parts of Balochistan, including Gwadar, Turbat, Bolan, and Hub. The data available with TKD indicates that in these suicide attacks, the group employed 33 attackers, including a female bomber in this ongoing year. The records further show that on February 29, the group deployed twelve attackers in an incursion on the Mach Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters, named Operation Dara-e-Bolan. 

During the Bolan attack, the group executed multiple coordinated strikes for the first time, blocking the major highway linking Quetta, the provincial capital, with other cities in the Naseerabad region and Sindh province. 

Within a span of two weeks after the Bolan attack, on March 20 the group carried out another attack employing eight suicide bombers to target the heart of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Gwadar City's Port Complex. On March 26, subsequently, within a week of the Gwadar attack, they targeted PNS Siddiqui, the second-largest naval base in Pakistan. Both the Turbat and Gwadar attacks were part of Operation Zarpazag, which means to 'protect the sea.'

The second-to-last attack to date took place on August 25 in Lasbela City, where the group deployed seven attackers, including a female suicide bomber named 23-year-old Mahal Baloch, also known as Zalin Kurd. The group mentioned in its statement that two other suicide bombers involved in this attack were eliminated during a security operation by the security forces. On the same day, the BLA carried out multiple attacks across Balochistan, blocking major highways, targeting law enforcement agencies, and killing at least 23 passengers in the Musakhail area of Balochistan after unloading them.

Abdul Basit further stated that “the operational capabilities, strategies, and lethality of the BLA have improved and grown in recent years. The group has become more offensive, continuously challenging the security forces in various parts of Balochistan and Karachi. Time and again, it has demonstrated its ability to target high-value assets. In recent months, particularly in August and now again in October, most of its attacks have been high-value.”

Pakistan’s Condemnation of the Attack 

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif took to X (formerly Twitter) and said “Deeply shocked and saddened by last night’s tragic incident in Karachi, resulting in the loss of two precious Chinese lives & injuring another. I strongly condemn this heinous act and offer my heartfelt condolences to the Chinese leadership & the people of China, particularly the families of the victims. May the injured recover soon. The perpetrators of this dastardly incident cannot be Pakistanis but are sworn enemies of Pakistan. An immediate investigation is underway to identify them and bring them to justice. Pakistan stands committed to safeguarding our Chinese friends. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure their security & well-being.”

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement condemned the attack and showed “deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, both Chinese and Pakistani, and offered prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.”

It further stated that Pakistan is committed to bringing the perpetrators, including the Majeed Brigade, to justice and has assured the Chinese Embassy of ongoing coordination. 

“The country reaffirms its dedication to the safety of Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan, pledging to work together with China to combat terrorism,” read the statement.