University of Karachi bombing explained

University of Karachi bombing
Location:Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Date:26 April 2022
Partof:the insurgency in Balochistan
Fatalities:5 (including the perpetrator)
Injuries:4
Target:Chinese lecturers of Karachi University
Type:suicide bombing
Perpetrator:BLA[1] and BLF[2]

On 26 April 2022, a suicide bombing hit a van near the University of Karachi's Confucius Institute, killing three Chinese academics and their Pakistani driver. The Balochistan Liberation Army,[3] claimed responsibility, saying that the perpetrator was the organization's first female suicide bomber.[4] [5]

Of the three Chinese killed, one was the director of the University's Confucius Institute. The other two were teachers.[6] China losing confidence in Pakistan's ability to secure Chinese nationals, has since requested permission to deploy Chinese private security contractors to Pakistan.[7]

Perpetrator

The Balochistan Liberation Army, a group internationally designated as a terrorist organization,[3] claimed responsibility for the bombing, which it said was done to discourage Chinese development programs in the region.

The bomber was identified as Shari Baloch, a 30-year-old female and secondary school science teacher from Kech District in Balochistan.[8] [6] [9] [10] She held bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the Allama Iqbal Open University, and had also obtained a master's degree in zoology from the University of Balochistan.[9] [10] She had reportedly enrolled in another postgraduate degree at the University of Karachi months before the attack, but was not reported to be a student there at the time.[10] Shari had a daughter and son, both reportedly aged five, with her husband Habitan Bashir Baloch, who is also from Kech and a dentist.[11] [12] [9] [13] [14] In 2019, Shari Baloch landed a job in the Balochistan Education Department and was employed at a government secondary school in Kalatak, near Turbat, where she taught science to female students.[10] However, she had been absent from the school since six months before the attack and had been served a show-cause notice, to which she had not responded.[9] Her husband, Habitan, was also a lecturer at the Makran Medical College, and was undertaking a postgraduate degree in public health from the Jinnah Sindh Medical University.[9] [10] Her husband was reported to be involved in a training programme at Karachi's Jinnah Hospital, and had been staying in a hotel near the hospital at the time.[10] The couple had rented an apartment in Gulistan-e-Johar, where Shari had been living for the past three years.[13] [14]

Shari Baloch's family has been described as "well-established, educated with no previous affiliation with any Baloch insurgent group."[9] However, Shari herself had remained a member of the Baloch Students Organisation (Azad) group during her student life.[9] Her motivations for the attack could not be ascertained, as no one in her immediate family had reportedly been a victim of human rights abuses.[9] Hours before the attack, Baloch posted a farewell message on her Twitter account.[9] Soon after the bombing occurred, her husband posted a Tweet in which he eulogised and praised Shari, describing her action as a "selfless act".[12] Her husband's whereabouts were not known immediately after the attack, with raids being carried out by security forces to apprehend him and other suspected facilitators.[13] On 27 April, Habitan Bashir Baloch, husband of Karachi University suicide bomber Shari Baloch, was arrested by security personnel, a day after the explosion, news agency ANI reported citing Pakistan's ARY News. Habitan is being interrogated by authorities. In a briefing chaired by Pakistan's interior minister, Rana Sanaullah, China's ambassador to Pakistan was apprised about the latest developments in the case.[15]

Authorities in Pakistan said they have arrested a key orchestrator of the Karachi University bombing in July,[16] the attack was the result of the combined efforts of two insurgent groups, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Reactions

The attack was strongly condemned by Pakistan,[17] China,[18] Saudi Arabia,[19] United Arab Emirates,[20] Oman,[21] India,[22] Kuwait,[23] the United States,[24] [25] European Union,[26] United Nations[27] and United Nation Security Council.[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 3 Chinese nationals among 4 dead in suicide attack at Karachi University . 2022-04-26 . 2022-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220506112426/https://www.dawn.com/news/1686920 . live .
  2. Web site: Syed Raza Hassan . Pakistan arrest militant suspect in deadly bombing of Chinese nationals . 6 July 2022 . Euro news . 13 July 2022 . 23 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240523003341/https://www.euronews.com/2022/07/06/us-pakistan-arrest . live .
  3. News: US designates Balochistan Liberation Army as global terrorist group. 2 July 2019. Dawn News. 28 April 2022. 2 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190702183427/https://www.dawn.com/news/1491688/us-brands-bla-in-pakistan-as-global-terrorist-group. live.
  4. News: 2022-04-26 . Pakistan attack: Chinese killed in blast in Karachi . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-04-26 . 2022-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426174420/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61229589 . live .
  5. News: 2022-04-26 . Three Chinese nationals among four killed in Pakistan bomb blast - police . en . Reuters . 2022-04-26 . 2022-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426190122/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/three-chinese-nationals-among-four-killed-pakistan-bomb-blast-police-2022-04-26/ . live .
  6. Web site: 2022-04-26 . Balochistan Liberation Army claims Karachi attack and '1st woman suicide bomber' . Aniruddha . Dhar . 2022-04-27 . Hindustan Times . en . 2022-05-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220501160325/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/karachi-university-blast-balochistan-liberation-army-claims-attack-101650972680484.html . live .
  7. Web site: Pakistan's foreign policy reset hits a dead end . 13 Jul 2022 . Arif . Rafiq . The Australian Strategic Policy Institute . 13 July 2022 . 13 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713024621/https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pakistans-foreign-policy-reset-hits-a-dead-end/ . live .
  8. News: Woman graduate student behind suicide attack at Pakistani university . Arab News Pakistan. 27 April 2022. 28 April 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707231931/https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2071616/pakistan . Jul 7, 2022 .
  9. News: KU blast: Inside the mind of woman suicide bomber . Shahabullah . Yousafzai . Hassaan . Siddiqui . The Express Tribune . 27 April 2022 . 28 April 2022 . 29 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220429141412/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2354333/ku-blast-inside-the-mind-of-woman-suicide-bomber . live .
  10. News: Women suicide bomber was a teacher in Balochistan . Syed Mohammad . Askari . Talha . Hashmi . The News . 28 April 2022 . 28 April 2022 . 3 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503194239/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/953997-women-suicide-bomber-was-a-teacher-in-balochistan . live .
  11. Web site: Female graduate student behind Pakistan university attack: Report . 2022-04-27 . Al Jazeera . 27 Apr 2022 . en . 2022-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220427082936/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/27/female-graduate-student-behind-pakistan-university-attack-report . live .
  12. Web site: 2022-04-27 . Husband of Karachi University blast suicide bomber 'beaming with pride': Report . Poulomi . Ghosh . 2022-04-27 . Hindustan Times . en . 2022-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220429101854/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/husband-of-karachi-university-blast-suicide-bomber-beaming-with-pride-report-101651023759107.html . live .
  13. News: Investigators say varsity blast intended to sabotage Pak-China ties. Imtiaz. Ali. Dawn. 28 April 2022. 28 April 2022. 6 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220506100148/https://www.dawn.com/news/1687154. live.
  14. News: Police raids home of Karachi suicide bomber's father. PTI. Rediff. 28 April 2022. 28 April 2022. 3 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220503190902/https://www.rediff.com/news/report/police-raids-home-of-karachi-suicide-bombers-father/20220428.htm. live.
  15. Web site: 2022-04-28 . Karachi University blast: Suicide bomber Shari Baloch's husband arrested, says report . Harshit . Sabarwal . Chandrashekar . Srinivasan . 2022-05-02 . Hindustan Times . en . 2022-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220502195859/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/karachi-univ-blast-suicide-bomber-shari-baloch-s-husband-arrested-says-report-101651117899583.html . live .
  16. Web site: Pakistan arrests Karachi bombing suspect as China urges more action . subscription . Adnan . Aamir . July 6, 2022 . Nikkei Asia . 6 July 2022 . 6 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706112946/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Terrorism/Pakistan-arrests-Karachi-bombing-suspect-as-China-urges-more-action . live .
  17. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/953689-mengal-condemns-suicide-blast-at-ku Mengal condemns suicide blast at KU
  18. https://www.dawn.com/news/1687079 China condemns suicide attack at Karachi University, demands punishment for perpetrators
  19. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2072181/saudi-arabia Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist bombing at Pakistan's Karachi University
  20. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/uae-condemns-terror-attack-on-pakistans-university-of-karachi-1.1651176197746 UAE condemns terror attack on Pakistan's University of Karachi
  21. https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1118445/oman/community/oman-condemns-pakistan-university-attack Oman condemns Pakistan university attack
  22. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karachi-attack-underlines-need-for-taking-undifferentiated-position-against-terrorism-india/article65366122.ece Karachi attack underlines need for taking 'undifferentiated' position against terrorism: India
  23. https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=3036376&language=en Kuwait condemns Karachi explosion
  24. https://www.geo.tv/latest/415213-us-condemns-karachi-suicide-blast US condemns Karachi University suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals
  25. https://apnews.com/article/explosions-pakistan-karachi-f443c998f70e7d5331d97966436009e0 Suicide blast in southern Pakistan kills 3 Chinese, driver
  26. https://twitter.com/EUPakistan/status/1518991712768692227 The EU condemns the terrible bomb attack in Karachi today. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims. We stand together with Pakistan and all partners to fight terrorism
  27. https://english.news.cn/20220427/b3aa4375d4ba4c23a4cc50662191e7e2/c.html UN chief condemns terrorist attack in Pakistan's Karachi University
  28. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/un-security-council-seeks-cooperation-with-pakistan-china-to-probe-karachi-blast/2576034# UN Security Council seeks cooperation with Pakistan, China to probe Karachi blast

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