LAHORE: The investigation into the recent suicide attack on two Chinese engineers in Karachi has revealed disturbing details about the involvement of India’s intelligence agency, RAW, in funding the assault. The attack, which was carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) newly established intelligence wing, ‘Zarab,’ has raised serious concerns about foreign influence and security breaches in Pakistan.
According to investigative authorities, the BLA received substantial financial support from RAW for this meticulously planned attack. The purchase of the double-cabin vehicle used in the bombing, along with explosives and other logistical costs, was funded by RAW, which reportedly provided Rs70 million for the vehicle alone. In total, it is estimated that over Rs100 million was spent on executing the attack.
A senior police official involved in the investigation stated that the suicide bombing could not have been carried out without internal assistance, as the arrival schedule of the Chinese engineers was supposed to be kept confidential. The revelation that the schedule had been leaked is a critical aspect of the ongoing investigation.
For the first time, the official FIR registered for the incident acknowledges the involvement of the BLA in this suicide attack. The masterminds behind the operation have been identified as BLA commanders Bashir Ahmed Baloch, also known as Bashir Zeb, and Abdul Rahman, alias Rahman Gul, along with several accomplices. The BLA’s intent was clear – to damage the strategic relationship between Pakistan and China, particularly in light of ongoing CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) projects.
The attacker, identified as 28-year-old Shah Fahad Badini, a resident of Washuk, completed his higher education at a university in Lasbela before joining the BLA’s Majid Brigade in 2019. The BLA, in a statement, confirmed that Shah Fahad had been trained for three years before being assigned the mission over a year ago. The group claimed responsibility for the attack through their intelligence wing, ‘Zarab,’ which they claim consists of skilled researchers, IT experts, data analysts, and investigators.
This recent incident is not an isolated case. Experts in security affairs note that BLA operations have become increasingly organised, as evidenced by coordinated attacks across eight districts in Balochistan in August this year. The BLA’s ambition to rebrand itself as a full-fledged army rather than a mere militant group is clear, and their capacity for executing large-scale operations suggests they are receiving significant financial backing, with RAW playing a key role.
Furthermore, sources in Islamabad report that the Chinese embassy has issued an advisory warning Chinese nationals to avoid travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces due to the rising threat of attacks targeting Chinese personnel and infrastructure.
This development follows an unsettling trend of increased terrorist activities in Pakistan’s southwestern and northwestern regions, raising questions about the country’s internal security and the extent of foreign interference.
The BLA’s use of highly educated operatives, like Shah Fahad, indicates a shift in their recruitment strategy, posing a greater threat to Pakistan’s stability and its relations with China. As the investigation continues, authorities are under pressure to clamp down on both the external and internal elements involved in this deadly attack.
