In northwest Pakistan, a suicide bomber struck a convoy of Chinese engineers engaged in a dam project, resulting in six casualties, as confirmed by local police.
This attack marks the third significant assault on Chinese interests within Pakistan over the past week, with previous incidents targeting a naval air base and a strategic port crucial for China’s investments in Balochistan.
The convoy, en route from Islamabad to the dam construction site in Dasu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, faced the deadly assault, claiming the lives of five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver, stated Mohammad Ali Gandapur, the regional police chief.
Dasu, the location of a major dam, has witnessed previous attacks, including a 2021 incident where a bus explosion claimed the lives of 13 individuals, including nine Chinese nationals.
Chinese engineers, heavily involved in Pakistan’s infrastructure projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have been a target of attacks, prompting demands for thorough investigations and increased security measures from the Chinese embassy in Pakistan.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the recent attack, Pakistan faces dual insurgencies by Islamist and ethnic militant groups, with Baloch separatists primarily targeting Chinese interests in mineral-rich Balochistan.
The Pakistani military condemned the attacks, attributing them to “foreign elements” aiming to disrupt Pakistan’s internal security and its alliances, particularly with China.
Amid escalating tensions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Beijing next week, signaling ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding Chinese nationals and projects remains steadfast, reaffirmed by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who pledged continued action against militants threatening the country’s stability.