Three arrested in Pakistan over Karachi airport blast that killed two Chinese nationals

Pakistan police have claimed arresting three suspects, including a woman, in connection with last month's deadly bombing near Karachi Airport that killed two Chinese nationals, officials said.

The attack, claimed by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), had raised fresh concerns over the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. In response to the uptick in militant attacks, Beijing urged Islamabad to implement urgent security measures. Pakistani officials have repeatedly assured China of "foolproof" security for its citizens in the country.

China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan, building infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative and operating strategic assets like the Gwadar port and a major mine.

Police officers and paramilitary soldiers gather near the wreckage of vehicles after an explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan October 6, 2024. A massive blast that targeted a convoy of Chinese workers in Pakistan's largest city killed two nationals, Beijing's embassy said on October 7, in an attack claimed by a separatist group. Reuters

However, Chinese nationals and projects have faced continuous attacks by separatist groups protesting what they see as the exploitation of resources in the mineral-rich southwestern Balochistan province.

The suspects, including an alleged mastermind named Javed, were taken into custody during an intelligence-based operation late Sunday, according to a statement from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). "Javed is believed to be the primary planner of this attack," a CTD spokesperson said.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, speaking at a press conference in Karachi on Monday, provided further details on the investigation, revealing that the explosives-laden vehicle used in the bombing had been purchased for PKR 7.1 million. The funds were reportedly transferred through the bank account of a suspect named Saeed Ali.

"The car was rigged with RDX and a white chemical explosive, hidden within the vehicle’s doors and wired to detonate via the handbrake," Lanjar explained. The group reportedly carried out extensive surveillance at the airport prior to the attack, with Javed conducting reconnaissance on foot and relaying information to his accomplices. Authorities are also investigating a bomb expert named Danish, believed to have built the explosive device.

Lanjar reiterated the government’s commitment to bolstering security measures, particularly for foreign nationals working on development projects in Pakistan.

The development follows an incident a week earlier in which two Chinese nationals were shot and injured in Karachi.

According to a police source, the shooting occurred in Karachi's SITE industrial area and was unrelated to militant violence. Instead, it stemmed from a personal dispute between a security guard at a local factory and the two Chinese nationals involved.

Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated Beijing's ongoing commitment to Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. "China reaffirms that terrorism is the enemy of all mankind. It is the common responsibility of the international community to combat terrorism and prevent tragedies from happening again,” he stated.

The spokesperson further emphasized the enduring China-Pakistan alliance, describing it as an "all-weather strategic partnership" and underscoring the "ironclad friendship deeply rooted in the hearts and minds" of both nations.

“Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries will not succeed,” he added.