Pakistan: Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility for suicide attack on Chinese engineers at Gwadar Port
Karachi: The convoy of Chinese engineers working on the Beijing-financed Gwadar Port in Pakistan was attacked by Majeed Brigade, the suicide squad belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Associated Press reported on Sunday.
BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch stated that two members of the BLA Majeed Brigade, Naveed Baloch alias Aslam Baloch of Dasht Nigor and Maqbool Baloch alias Qayim Baloch of Geshkor Awaran, carried out an attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers in Gwadar.
He referred to the attack as a "self-sacrificing operation."
Image Source: Social media
He added that the operation, named 'ZirPahazag', lasted for over two hours.
According to Jeeyand, after successfully carrying out the operation, the BLA fighters used their last bullets to end their own lives.
The convoy of Chinese engineers was attacked at around 9:30 am, and a fierce gunfight ensued for nearly two hours, reported The Balochistan Post.
Local media reports indicate that Pakistani security forces eliminated two terrorists during the gunfight.
Two Pakistani security personnel sustained injuries when the convoy came under attack on Faqeer Bridge in Gwadar.
Other assailants managed to escape from the scene with injuries, according to sources cited by the Balochistan Post.
Providing more details about the attack, the English-language Chinese tabloid Global Times stated that the convoy, consisting of three bulletproof SUVs and a van, transported 23 Chinese personnel.
An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated during the attack, and the van was fired upon, causing cracks in the glass.
Following the incident, the Chinese Consulate General in Karachi, Pakistan, issued a safety advisory on Sunday. The consulate advised people to maintain high levels of vigilance and strictly control large gatherings due to the serious security situation.
The BLA spokesperson mentioned that a comprehensive statement will be issued to the media shortly.
It's worth noting that Gwadar Port is a significant component of the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with numerous Chinese workers employed at the port. China has made substantial investments in Balochistan under the CPEC initiative.
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