On Wednesday evening, the Pakistani Interior Minister stated that four people were killed in an explosion at a hotel in Quetta, the capital of the southwestern Balochistan province, which hosts the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan who was not present at the hotel at the time of the explosion. The minister described the blast as a "terrorist act," and no group has claimed responsibility for it. The Pakistani government faces a rebellion in this province led by the Balochistan Liberation Army, which has previously claimed responsibility for many attacks.
Pakistani officials reported late Wednesday that at least four people were killed and more than ten were injured in a bomb explosion at a hotel hosting the Chinese ambassador in southwestern Pakistan. The explosion occurred in the parking lot of the luxury "Serena" hotel in Quetta, where the Pakistani army has faced an insurgency for nearly a decade.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed stated that "at least four people were killed and 12 others were injured," describing the explosion as a "terrorist act." He added that "a Chinese delegation of four people, including the ambassador, was staying at the hotel," noting that "the ambassador was in a meeting outside the hotel at the time of the explosion."
Poverty prevails in Balochistan, despite its wealth of natural resources such as gas and minerals, which has led to anger among its residents who complain about not receiving a fair share of the region's wealth. Local discontent has increased with the influx of funds into the area through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, a key part of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, as locals believe that the project has benefited them very little while most new jobs went to outsiders.
Azhar Ikram, a senior city police official, confirmed the death toll, pointing out that the Chinese ambassador was staying at the hotel but was not present at the time of the explosion. He added, "Initial investigations indicate a homemade device placed in one of the vehicles." As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In 2019, armed attackers stormed another luxury hotel overlooking the Gwadar port project, which gives China a strategic outlet to the Arabian Sea, resulting in the deaths of at least eight people. In June, Baloch insurgents targeted the Pakistani Stock Exchange, which is partially owned by Chinese companies. The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for all these attacks.
