A Pakistani separatist group claims bombing that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani separatist group claimed responsibility for a late night bombing that targeted a convoy with Chinese nationals outside the country's largest airport, killing two workers from China and wounding eight people, officials and the insurgent group said Monday.

The attack by the Baloch Liberation Army outside the airport in the southern port city of Karachi was the latest deadly assault on Chinese here and came a week before Pakistan is to host a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security grouping founded by China and Russia to counter Western alliances.

The explosion, which the BLA said was the work of a suicide bomber, also raised questions about the ability of Pakistani forces to secure high-profile events or foreigners in the country. Among the wounded were also police officers who were escorting the Chinese convoy when the attack happened.

Initially, Pakistani authorities gave conflicting details and said the explosion may have been from an oil tanker but police later confirmed it was a bomb attack.

Pakistani news channels broadcast videos of flames engulfing cars and a thick column of smoke rising from the scene. Troops and police cordoned off the area. On Monday, counterterrorism officials were investigating how the attacker reached Karachi, Pakistan's largest city.

The spokesman for the separatist group, Junaid Baloch, said Monday that one of their suicide bombers targeted the convoy of Chinese engineers and investors as they left the airport. The Baloch Liberation Army is mainly based in the restive southwestern Balochistan province but it has also attacked foreigners and security forces in other parts of Pakistan in recent years.

The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad said Chinese staffers working at the Port Qasim Electric Power Company — a coal-powered power plant that's a joint China-Pakistan venture — were in the convoy when it came under attack around 11 p.m. on Sunday. Two Chinese nationals were killed and one was wounded, the embassy said and added, without elaborating, that there were also Pakistani casualties.

Pakistani security officials say a police bomb disposal unit in Sindh province, where Karachi is the capital, had cleared the road outside the airport ahead of the movement of the Chinese convoy, which was being escorted by police and security officials in several vehicles.

However, the road had not been blocked to avoid inconvenience for residents and travelers going to or from the airport, the officials said, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss security details.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the bombing, saying it was a “heinous terrorist attack near Karachi airport.” It said another Chinese was injured in the attack.

“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, both Chinese and Pakistani, and offer prayers for the swift recovery of the injured,” said the ministry in a statement. “We remain resolute in bringing to justice those responsible for this cowardly attack.”

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was shocked and saddened, describing the attackers as “enemies of Pakistan” and promising the perpetrators would be punished.

“I strongly condemn this heinous act and offer my heartfelt condolences to the Chinese leadership & the people of China, particularly the families of the victims,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

“Pakistan stands committed to safeguarding our Chinese friends," he added. "We will leave no stone unturned to ensure their security & well-being.”

Authorities estimate that the BLA, which Pakistan and the United States have designated a terrorist organization, has around 3,000 fighters. It regularly targets Pakistani security forces but has also in the past attacked Chinese nationals.

According to Abdullah Khan, a senior defense analyst and managing director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, BLA has preferred attacks on “moving targets” but its ability to launch high-profile attacks has increased in recent years.

More BLA attacks around the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit next week cannot be ruled out, Khan told The Associated Press.

Port Qasim Electric Power Company is owned by PowerChina Resource Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China whose spokesperson, Geng Xingqiang, said the company "is in the middle of making arrangements to actively deal with the incident.”

Pakistan hosts thousands of Chinese workers as part of Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which is building major infrastructure projects.

The outlawed BLA has long waged an insurgency seeking independence and has repeatedly warned against any Chinese working in Balochistan.

The Sunday night attack followed deadly attacks in August that killed more than 50 people in Balochistan. Sharif at the time said the attackers sought to harm Chinese-funded development projects.

The oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but also least populated province. It is also a hub for the country’s ethnic Baloch minority whose members say they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government. Along with separatist groups, Islamic militants also operate in the province.

In 2018, the BLA stormed the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, triggering an intense hourlong shootout that killed two Pakistani civilians and two police officers. All three assailants were also killed.

In March, in northwestern Pakistan, a suicide bombing killed five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver as they headed to the Dasu Dam, the country's biggest hydropower project. In April, five Japanese workers were unharmed when a suicide bomber targeted their van as they were on their wat to a factory in Karachi. One bystander was killed.

In July 2021, at least nine Chinese nationals working on a dam and four Pakistanis were killed when a suicide bomber targeted their bus in northwestern Pakistan. Local authorities first said it was a road accident but Beijing insisted it was a bombing, which Islamabad later confirmed.

In 2022, three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver were killed when an explosion ripped through their van at the University of Karachi campus.

Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu and AP researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report.

Security officials work on the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Pakistani Baloch separatists claim deadly bomb attack that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials work on the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Pakistani Baloch separatists claim deadly bomb attack that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials work on the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Pakistani Baloch separatists claim deadly bomb attack that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials stand guard next to the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Pakistani Baloch separatists claim deadly bomb attack that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A car is seen damaged at the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Pakistani Baloch separatists claim deadly bomb attack that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials stand guard at the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Pakistani Baloch separatists claim deadly bomb attack that killed 2 Chinese near Karachi airport. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials examine damage cars at the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles at outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials examine the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles at outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials examine the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, early Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pakistani security officials who were injured in an explosion receives treatment inside an ambulance outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Security officials examine the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles outside Karachi airport, Pakistan, early Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A Pakistani security official, who was injured in an explosion receives treatment inside an ambulance outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, early Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A paramilitary soldier gestures toward media as security officials examine the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles at outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A vehicle is seen on fire at the site of an explosion that caused injures and destroyed vehicles at outside the Karachi airport, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammad Farooq)

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Captain Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique struck aggressive half centuries and led Pakistan’s positive start in the first test against a new-look England pace attack on Monday.

Left-handed Masood was unbeaten on an attractive 61 off 59 balls while Shafique struck form with 53 not out as Pakistan sped to lunch at 122-1 in 25 overs.

Masood raised his 15th test half century off 43 balls with six boundaries and successfully overturned an onfield lbw decision through television referral which denied fast bowler Brydon Carse his first wicket on his debut.

Shafique, who struggled in Pakistan’s 2-0 loss against Bangladesh in the last series, opened up late in the first session and smashed off-spinner Shoaib Bashir for two fours and a six over long-on to raise his half century off 77 balls just before lunch.

Bashir had been expensive in his six overs, going for 42 off his six overs.

Shafique also survived a close run-out chance when captain Ollie Pope’s under-arm throw from close range missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end with the batter well-short of his crease.

Gus Atkinson, playing his first overseas test match, gave England an early success when Saim Ayub gloved a leg-side catch in fast bowler’s second over after Masood won the toss and elected to bat.

But Masood batted with lot of intent – both against Carse and Bashir – and pierced the offside field for attractive boundaries as England struggled to stem the flow of runs on a wicket which has a tinge of grass.

Pakistan had been searching for its first test win at home in more than 3-1/2 years since last beating South Africa in early 2021. It kept faith on the same struggling batting line-up for the opening game of three-match series.

Masood, who has lost all the five test matches since being elevated as skipper last year, said at the coin toss that the team “is hurt” from the recent results, especially losing some of the games after coming close to winning positions.

Fast bowling all-rounder Aamer Jamal, who missed the series against Bangladesh, has recovered from back injury and will combine with two frontline fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah as Pakistan also included specialist spinner Abrar Ahmed.

England’s regular test captain Ben Stokes will miss the series opener because he is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury he sustained during the Hundred.

Stokes presented a test cap to his Durham team-mate Carse, who bowled consistently at 140mph, without success.

Multan will host back-to-back test matches after the second test was shifted from Karachi due to construction work going on at the National Bank Stadium for next year’s Champions Trophy. Rawalpindi will host the third and final test from Oct. 24.

England swept Pakistan 3-0 when it toured Pakistan in 2022.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique, center, and Shan Masood, left, run between the wickets as England's Brydon Carse watches during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique, left, and Shan Masood run between the wickets during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub walks off the field after his dismissal during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Players of England, left, and Pakistan stand for their national anthem before the start of the play of first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

England's Chris Woakes bowls during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

England's Gus Atkinson, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Saim Ayub during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

England's Brydon Carse appeals unsuccessfully LBW out of Pakistan's Shan Masood during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique plays a shot during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Shan Masood plays a shot during the first day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's test team skipper Shan Masood, right, and his England's counterpart Ollie Pope pose for photograph with test series trophy, in Multan, Pakistan, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

England's Brydon Carse, center, hugs with Ben Stokes after receiving test debut before the start of the play of first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

England's Ollie Pope watches after the coin toss before the start of the play of first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Shan Masood, right, shakes hand with England's Ollie Pope after coin toss before the start of the play of first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Shan Masood, right, flips the coin for toss as England's Ollie Pope, left, watches before the start of the play of first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)