Karachi Airport explosion linked to foreign intelligence agency: preliminary report
Karachi (PTI): A preliminary report over the recent explosion near Pakistan's busiest airport here has indicated that the attack was executed with the assistance of a foreign intelligence agency, a media report said on Saturday.
The report, submitted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to the anti-terrorism court, stated that the suicide bombing targeted Chinese engineers as part of a conspiracy to damage Pakistan-China relations, The Express Tribune reported.
On Sunday, two Chinese nationals were killed and 17 people injured in the suicide attack by a Baloch insurgent group that targeted a convoy of Chinese workers.
The explosion near the Jinnah International Airport on Sunday night also killed the suspected suicide bomber.
The preliminary report identified the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as being involved in the attack and indicated that the attack was executed with the assistance of a foreign intelligence agency, the Tribune said.
It suggested that an unidentified terrorist parked their vehicle close to a convoy of Chinese nationals before detonating the explosive, the report said.
Upon hearing the blast, police arrived at the scene and found injured individuals, including personnel from police and Rangers.
The Chinese nationals were working at the Port Qasim Electric Power Company on the outskirts of the city and were returning home when their convoy was attacked.
A case has been registered at the Airport police station under the supervision of the station house officer.
The CTD’s report includes charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, use of explosive materials, and terrorism, among other counts.
Earlier this week, an initial investigation report confirmed the tragic event involved 70 to 80 kg of explosives.
On Friday, China said it has dispatched an inter-agency working group to Pakistan following the deadly suicide bomb attack in Karachi.
Thousands of Chinese personnel are working in Pakistan on several projects under the aegis of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is home to a long-running violent insurgency. Baloch insurgent groups have previously carried out several attacks targeting CPEC projects.
The BLA accuses China and Islamabad of exploitation of the resource-rich province, a charge rejected by the authorities. It has fought a long-running insurgency for a separate homeland.
The group in the last two years carried out similar suicide bomb attacks in Karachi targeting foreign nationals.
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Tension erupts as RSS march allegedly disrupted by religious slogans in Ratnagiri
MLA Nitesh Rane issues warning
Ratnagiri: A tense atmosphere emerged on Friday evening during a march organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Ratnagiri. The incident drew strong reactions from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Kankavli MLA, Nitesh Rane, who condemned the actions of a few individuals he accused of attempting to disturb the event. Rane claimed that as long as people with a "jihadi mentality" exist in India, they would hinder Hindus from celebrating their festivals and obstruct nationalist organisations like the RSS from holding peaceful gatherings.
According to reports, the RSS march was initially proceeding smoothly until some individuals began chanting religious slogans in an apparent attempt to disrupt the event. Rane expressed his outrage on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "There will be consequences for this, with interest."
In a subsequent video message, Rane detailed the incident, asserting that chants of "Allahu Akbar" were heard from the crowd during the RSS procession. He suggested that these disruptions are part of a broader agenda aimed at transforming India into an Islamic nation, despite it being a Hindu-majority country. Rane called for Hindu unity, warning that if left unchecked, such disruptions could invade homes in the future. He emphasised, “If you divide, you will be cut; if you stay united, you will thrive.”
The march involved RSS workers marching in formation, accompanied by a band, until a group attempted to block the procession with religious chants. Police intervened immediately, ensuring that the march continued without further incident.
Authorities have initiated an investigation and are reviewing video footage to identify those responsible for the disruptions. The police assured the public that they are working to maintain order and peace in the area.
