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Karachi blast & looming security concerns over SCO Summit

CT Newsroom 

Three Chinese died while 17 were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi on Sunday creating serious security concerns over the conduction of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Pakistan on October 15-16, 2024.

As per BBC reports, on October 6, 2024, the sound of explosion was heard in nearby areas of Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. Home Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar while talking to a private media house, confirmed the IED explosion in nearby area of Karachi Airport. At least, three Chinese died and 17 civilians were injured in the explosion while over 10 cars were burned out.

Reportedly, it was a planned attack on the convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in the country’s Sindh province. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered the authorities to provide best medical treatment to the injured and also sought a detailed report on the incident.

However, Chinese Embassy in Pakistan called it as a terrorist attack and condemned the incident. The embassy informed that the engineers were part of the Chinese-funded enterprise Port Qasim Power Generation which is building two coal power plants at Port Qasim, near Karachi; this project is the part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The enterprise is also working in Balochistan for the infrastructure-building and other energy projects, embassy added.

Pakistan Foreign Office has said that such barbaric act would not go unpunished, and Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the safety of Chinese nationals.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), in a statement, claiming the responsibility of the attack said “we targeted a high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors; it was a suicide attack. The perpetrator Shah Fahad, a part of the BLA suicide squad ‘Majeed Brigade’, carried out the attack using a vehicle with improvised explosive device.”

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan is going to host SCO summit on October 15-16, 2024. This explosion can create serious concerns over the security situation for the conduct of SCO summit.

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