4 killed in China’s consulate in Karachi Baloch suicide squad
A Baloch suicide squad comprising of three members of an ethnic Baloch separatist group stormed a Chinese consulate in the southern port city of Karachi. They were able to kill four people before they were shot dead the Pakistani security forces. No Chinese national was hurt in the encounter.
The responsibility of the suicide attack was claimed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). This is an insurgent group that has been fighting Pakistani state for over a decade and now they are employing Baloch suicide squad. They consider China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) an illegal operation of Balochistan. Since the launch of CPEC construction projects, the BLA and other Baloch separatist groups have been targeting Chinese and Pakistani engineers and workers in the restive province.
Pakistani foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said at a press conference on Friday, “All of our Chinese friends and officials who work at the consulate, 21 in total, are safe and they have been shifted to a secure location. The area is now clear.” He took a vow that Islamabad and Beijing will defeat the forces which try to stand as an obstacle on the path of development for Pakistan.
In a statement, China condemned the attack. They promised to protect Chinese citizens in Pakistan. But Beijing made no comment on Qureshi’s statement about Pakistan and China joining forces and fighting the Baloch separatists together. This could result in Chinese security forces playing a bigger role in CPEC.
Earlier, the BLA spokesperson, Jihand Baloch had said, “We have been seeing the Chinese as an oppressor, along with Pakistani forces. Three of our fighters have raided the consulate.” He said that the fighters were members of the Fidayeen Majeed Brigade. This is a new force raised the group to carry out suicide attacks on Pakistani security forces and Chinese targets.
We extend our condolences to the people who were killed the Baloch Suicide Squad.
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