Two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near Karachi’s international airport on Sunday night, which the Chinese embassy in Pakistan labeled a “terrorist attack.” The separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has since claimed responsibility for the incident, asserting that it specifically targeted Chinese nationals, including engineers.
Goals of the Baloch Liberation Army
The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, a province in southwestern Pakistan that borders Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west. As the largest of several ethnic insurgent groups in the region, the BLA has been engaged in a decades-long struggle against the federal government, claiming that it unjustly exploits Balochistan’s abundant gas and mineral resources.
Balochistan hosts significant mining operations, including the Reko Diq project, managed by Barrick Gold, which is considered one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines. Additionally, Chinese companies have established mining operations in the province.
Targeting Chinese Interests
While the BLA typically focuses on infrastructure projects and security posts within Balochistan, its recent activities have extended to Karachi. The group has a history of targeting Chinese interests, particularly in relation to the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea, which they accuse Beijing of exploiting in collaboration with Islamabad.
Notably, the BLA has previously attacked Chinese nationals in the area and has been implicated in an assault on the Chinese consulate in Karachi. In August, the group executed a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan that resulted in over 70 fatalities.
Implications of the Recent Attack
The recent attack comes as Pakistan prepares to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad next week, an event anticipated to attract high-level Chinese officials and the first visit from an Indian foreign minister in a decade. Following the attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged that the government would “leave no stone unturned” to ensure the safety of its “Chinese friends.”
Balochistan plays a crucial role in China’s $65 billion investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. The ongoing insurgency in the province has created significant instability, raising security concerns about Pakistan’s efforts to harness the untapped resources located in Balochistan’s arid and mountainous regions.
Context of the Baloch Insurgency
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area but has the smallest population, estimated at around 15 million. The region also features a lengthy coastline along the Arabian Sea, strategically positioned near the Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane.
Recent protests by Baloch activists, many of whom are women, have highlighted allegations of human rights abuses by security forces, claims that the Pakistani government has denied. The complex dynamics of the region continue to pose challenges to both national security and foreign investment.
(INCLUDES INPUTS FROM ONLINE SOURCES)
ALSO READ: Hurricane Milton Intensifies: Category 4 Storm Targets Florida
