UPDATE: 2 Chinese among 3 killed, 17 injured in Pakistan suicide attack

UPDATES WITH RISE IN DEATH TOLL, CHANGES LEDE AND HEADER, NO CHANGES TO DECK, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - A suicide attack near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi late Sunday killed two Chinese nationals and a local Pakistani, while 17 others were injured, officials and the Chinese Embassy confirmed on Monday.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad condemned the "terrorist attack," confirming the deaths of two Chinese citizens and noting that another was injured. The embassy expressed its condolences to the victims' families and said it is coordinating with Pakistani authorities following the incident.

Police reported that a lone suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a convoy carrying the Chinese nationals. Among the injured were several security personnel accompanying the convoy.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, directing security agencies to bring those responsible to justice. In a separate statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also denounced the attack, describing it as an assault not only on Pakistan but also on its "enduring friendship" with China.

"We remain resolute in bringing to justice those responsible for this cowardly attack," the ministry said.

The powerful explosion, heard miles away, occurred outside the airport. Authorities assured that all airport installations were safe and that flight operations were not affected.

The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a banned group that has previously targeted Chinese nationals in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. Baloch separatists have accused China of exploiting the mineral-rich resources in the southwestern Balochistan province.