China condemns Karachi blast, asks Pakistan to ensure safety of Chinese people

China on Monday condemned the deaths of two of its nationals, who were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi on Sunday night. It also called on Pakistan to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in the country.
In an official statement, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan condemned the “heinous act of terrorism” and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, both Chinese and Pakistani.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the injured and their families during this difficult time,” the statement said. The embassy also stressed China’s solidarity with Pakistan in combating terrorism, calling for swift and decisive action.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a convoy carrying Chinese personnel from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company. The bombing, near Karachi’s airport, also left 10 others injured, including one Chinese citizen, along with multiple Pakistani casualties.
The BLA, which has been behind previous attacks on Chinese interests in Pakistan, released a photo of the suicide bomber who carried out the attack, labelling it as part of its ongoing campaign against foreign presence in Balochistan.
Taking note of the developments in Karachi, China immediately launched an emergency response to the incident, demanding that the Pakistani government thoroughly investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We urge the Pakistani authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects operating in Pakistan”, the embassy added.
This attack comes amid growing concerns about the security of Chinese nationals involved in Pakistan’s infrastructure projects, especially those connected to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan’s infrastructure as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and this incident is likely to raise security concerns for ongoing and future projects in the country.
The latest attack raises concerns for China about the persistent security challenges posed by insurgent groups like the BLA, which have repeatedly targeted Chinese projects and personnel in Pakistan.
China is likely to apply increased pressure on Pakistan to tighten security measures for its citizens and projects.
Earlier in March this year, five Chinese nationals and a local were killed in an explosion by a suicide bomber in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The incident happened when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers that was on its way from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu.
Chinese nationals have been engaged in several projects in Pakistan with its “all-weather” ally China having invested billions in infrastructure projects as part of the Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under its Belt and Road initiative (BRI).