On Tuesday, a security guard opened fire at a garment factory in Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub, injuring two Chinese nationals. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks that have led Beijing to call for improved security for its citizens. Following the shooting, large police contingents were deployed to the factory in Karachi's industrial area. Forensic teams were also seen entering the cordoned-off site.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident, and details of the attack remain unconfirmed. Senior Superintendent of Police Faizan Ali informed Reuters that the Chinese nationals had been shot but did not provide additional information. Another police official stated that a security guard was responsible for the shooting. The guard has not yet been apprehended, and the motive for the attack remains unclear, the official added.

A spokesperson for Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi stated that the hospital is treating the two victims, one of whom is in critical condition. This attack follows previous incidents, including a bombing near Karachi's international airport last month that killed two Chinese engineers, claimed by the separatist militant group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

In response to the escalating attacks, China has intensified its calls for improved security measures for its citizens in Pakistan. Last month, Ambassador Jiang Zaidong addressed a gathering in Islamabad, declaring that the increase in deadly assaults was unacceptable.

The Pakistan Foreign Office responded, affirming Islamabad's full commitment to safeguarding Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions on its territory. In a statement issued on October 31, it noted that this commitment had been communicated to the highest levels of the Chinese government. A longstanding insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan's southwestern province, has fuelled frequent attacks targeting the government, military, and Chinese interests, with militants demanding a greater share of regional resources.

Balochistan is also home to the deep-water Gwadar port, built by China as part of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.