Several megaprojects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are being worked on by thousands of Chinese nationals in Shangla. Tuesday’s explosion during a suicide bomber’s attack on their convoy in northwest Pakistan claimed the lives of five Chinese nationals, according to Reuters.
The Chinese engineers were being transported from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into their convoy, according to regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur.
According to Gandapur, five Chinese citizens and their Pakistani driver lost their lives in the attack. As far as Tuesday’s attack is concerned, no one has claimed responsibility.
According to Dawn.com, Bisham station house officer (SHO) Bakht Zaheer described the incident as a “suicide blast” and said that the authorities concerned were collecting evidence.
He further said that the bodies are being taken to the hospital and the area has been made more secure.
Also Read: Baltimore Bridge: Ship crashes at US crossing, sending vehicles and people into water
“We will look into how and where the suicide bomber’s vehicle came from,” the SHO declared.
In less than a week, there have been three significant assaults on Chinese interests in Pakistan.
In the southwest province of Balochistan, where China is spending billions on infrastructure projects, an airbase and a vital port were targeted in the first two attacks.
As part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have been working on hydroelectric projects in the western province of Khyber-Paktunkhwa for a number of years.
Dasu, an important dam project site, has faced attacks in the past.
In 2021, an attack in Dasu killed nine Chinese nationals, two of whom were children from Pakistan. This incident resulted in an attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers and laborers to the Dasu Hydroelectric Project site.
At first, there was uncertainty about the nature of the attack; Some reports claimed that it was a bus accident. However, subsequent investigation revealed that it was actually a terrorist attack. There was a huge explosion in the bus, due to which it fell into the ravine.
“President Zardari declared, “Anti-Pakistani elements will never succeed in damaging Pak-China friendship.”
صدر مملکت آصف علی زرداری کی بشام میں چینی باشندوں پر حملے کی شدید مذمت
صدر مملکت کا حملے میں چینی باشندوں کی ہلاکت پر گہرے رنج و غم کا اظہار
صدر مملکت کا جاں بحق ہونے والے چینی باشندوں کے اہل خانہ اور چینی حکومت سے اظہار تعزیت
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 26, 2024
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the “suicide attack” and expressed his “sincere condolences” to the bereaved families.
“We stand with the Chinese government and the families of those killed in this hour of grief,” he said in a statement.
The enemies have targeted the people of Pakistan, a friendly and trustworthy country. The minister further said, ‘This was not only an attack on Pakistani citizens, but also an attack on Chinese citizens.
Naqvi vowed, “The enemy will get a strong response to this attack.”
اسلام آباد سے کوہستان جانے والے چینی باشندوں پرخودکش حملہ انتہائی افسوسناک اورقابل مذمت ہے۔قیمتی جانوں کے ضیاع پر دُکھ ہے۔ دشمن پاک چینی دوستی اورسی پیک کو سوچی سمجھی سازش کے تحت ٹارگٹ کر رہا ہے لیکن قوم پاک فوج کے ساتھ ملکر تمام مذموم سازشیں ناکام بنائے گی۔میری تمام ہمدردیاں…
— Abdul Aleem Khan (@abdul_aleemkhan) March 26, 2024
Former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed grief over the attack and the death of Chinese civilians.
He wrote on Twitter that the masterminds and supporters of the terrorist attack should be given strict punishment.
He expressed his condolences to the Chinese government and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. “The perpetrators of the Bisham incident cannot escape punishment,” he said.
I am Atul Sharma, As a full-time blogger, my focus is on delivering news articles on this platform. Your visit to my blog is highly appreciated. Thank you!