There has been a massive explosion near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. Due to this, 3 foreign nationals died and 17 others were injured. Deputy Inspector General Azfar Mahesar said, ‘Initial information has been received that a fire broke out in an oil tanker which spread to many other vehicles. This has caused massive damage. We are determining whether there was any element of terrorism involved in it. At present we cannot rule out such a possibility.
Video of the attack showed flames coming from cars and plumes of smoke rising from the scene. A large number of military personnel were deployed at the incident site and the area has been surrounded from all sides. Two workers from China are also among the dead. The Chinese Embassy issued a statement saying that the convoy carrying employees of Port Qasim Electric Power Limited Company was attacked at around 11 pm, in which two Chinese citizens were killed and another was injured. He told that Pakistani citizens were also injured in this attack.
Provincial Home Minister Zia Ul Hasan told local TV channel Geo that the blast was targeted at foreigners. It is known that there are thousands of Chinese workers in Pakistan. Most of these employees are working for China’s billion-dollar ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, which has been started to connect South and Central Asia with the Chinese capital.
China’s statement described the explosion as a terrorist attack. Also, it was said that China is working with Pakistan to deal with the subsequent situation. China has demanded a thorough investigation into the attack so that the culprits can be caught and has asked Chinese citizens in Pakistan to take security precautions. “The Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack,” the statement said. Express our deepest condolences to the innocent victims of both the countries.
