UN strongly denounces terrorist attack in Karachi

The United Nations Security Council issued a statement on Tuesday strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Sunday night that killed two Chinese and several Pakistani nationals.

The Security Council "condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack near Jinnah International Airport", the statement said.

The Chinese embassy in Pakistan said that at least two Chinese nationals were killed and another injured when their convoy was attacked near the airport.

The embassy said the attack, which occurred at about 11 pm, targeted a convoy carrying Chinese staff members of Port Qasim Electric Power Co.

The Security Council expressed its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and to the governments of China and Pakistan, and wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured, the statement said.

The council reaffirmed that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, underlining the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these acts accountable and bring them to justice.

The council urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the governments of China and Pakistan, as well as all other relevant authorities.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement said. It also stressed the need for all states to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The banned group Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack. On Monday, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan urged Chinese nationals to reconsider travel plans to the country following the attack. It also advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to the southwest province of Balochistan and the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On March 26, a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project undertaken by a Chinese company. The engineers were on their way from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, to their camp at the dam construction site in Dasu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Five Chinese nationals and one Pakistani were killed in the attack.