Pakistani security forces reportedly thwarted an attempt on Chinese engineers in the southern region of Balochistan, killing two terrorists and sparing the Chinese nationals' lives.
Attack on Chinese Nationals in Pakistan
Two hours of fighting between police and terrorists had resulted in a clearing operation, according to Chakar Baloch, police superintendent of the Gwadar district where the incident occurred, as reported by CNN. Two of the security guards were hurt.
The Baloch Liberation Army, a violent separatist organization, sent a statement to CNN claiming responsibility for the assault.
The Pakistani military said that during an exchange of fire with security forces, at least two terrorists were killed, and three others were wounded. According to the military, a search operation has been initiated, and the area has been blocked off.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday, August 14, strongly condemning the incident and calling on the Pakistani government to bring those responsible to justice and protect the Chinese people.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated: "China will continue to work with Pakistan to prevent and respond to the threat of terrorism, and effectively protect the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Pakistan."
He added, "Any attempt to undermine [the] China-Pakistan friendship and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor [CPEC] will never succeed."
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Connecting China and Pakistan
The CPEC is a $60 billion project that would build a network of roads, railroads, pipelines, and power plants connecting China's western Xinjiang province with Pakistan's vital Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. It is an important part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's trademark Belt and Road Initiative to improve infrastructure throughout the world.
Balochistan, a province of Pakistan, is the country's biggest yet has the fewest inhabitants. Gwadar is also home to the CPEC's significant Gwadar port.
Pakistan's closest ally and primary provider of military and economic aid is China. Beijing is worried about the safety of Chinese citizens and businesses in Pakistan because of a spate of recent terrorist strikes in that country.
A suicide blast near the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi killed four people in April 2022; three Chinese instructors and their driver. The Baloch Liberation Army also claimed involvement, stating that the Confucius Institute was chosen as a "symbol of Chinese economic, cultural, and political expansionism."
Meanwhile, in July of 2021, engineers from China were attacked in northern Pakistan. Local police said that after a fiery explosion, a bus full of Chinese engineers crashed into a ditch, killing more than a dozen passengers.
