Suicide bomb attack in Pakistan kills five Chinese citizens

According to Pakistani media reports, a suicide bomb attack occurred in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing five Chinese citizens and one local. Reuters Report. Local police have arrived at the scene and started rescue operations.

People were killed when an alleged suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into a convoy of Chinese engineers traveling from Islamabad to Dasu camp. Reuters The regional police chief was quoted as saying.

“Five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack,” the senior police officer said, adding that the rest of the convoy had been safely evacuated.

Pakistani President Zardari condemned the attack and said that “forces hostile to Pakistan will never succeed in damaging Pakistan-China friendship.”

The Presidential Palace of Pakistan issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the five Chinese citizens.

Reuters further quoted police sources as saying that the convoy was carrying staff from China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) involved in the Dasu Hydropower Project, which the company plans to undertake in 2021.

Dasu is home to a large dam and the area has been hit in the past. In 2021, a bus exploded, killing 13 people, including 9 Chinese citizens. At the time, Pakistan paid millions of dollars in compensation to the families of the killed Chinese workers. China sent an investigation team to investigate the attack.

In addition, in August 2023, a Chinese engineer convoy was attacked by armed rebels in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province, and a fierce gun battle took place for several hours between the rebels and Pakistani security forces.

In another attack in May 2021, a burqa-clad Baloch female suicide bomber targeted a minibus carrying staff of the Chinese-built Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi, killing four people , including three Chinese citizens (mentors). In the same year, in April 2021, a suicide bomb attack occurred at a luxury hotel in Quetta where the Chinese ambassador was stationed, killing four people and injuring dozens more.

Chinese citizens are involved in many projects in Pakistan and its all-weather ally China has invested billions in infrastructure projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Abdul Alim Khan, the newly appointed Minister of Privatization of Pakistan, confirmed that the deceased worked for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. He said on X: “The enemy is targeting China-Pakistan friendship and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in a well-planned conspiracy , but Pakistan will work with the Pakistan Army to thwart all evil plots.”