Pakistan’s military revealed on Tuesday that a suicide bombing that killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver in March was planned in neighboring Afghanistan. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sharif said that four men behind the attack had been arrested, and it was an attempt to harm the friendship between Pakistan and China. The bombing took place in Bisham district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the engineers were working on the Dasu Dam, a project related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Sharif also linked the Pakistani Taliban, who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan, to a surge in attacks inside Pakistan that have killed 62 security forces since January.
The recent attacks have prompted foreign embassies, such as the U.S. consulate, to issue warnings to their citizens and diplomatic staff in Pakistan. The U.S. consulate specifically mentioned a threat of a terrorist attack at Karachi Port and advised individuals to stay away from the area, maintain a low profile, and be vigilant in tourist frequented places. Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, has been a target for several militant attacks on Chinese and Pakistani nationals. Just last month, a suicide blast targeted a van carrying Japanese workers, leaving one Pakistani bystander dead.
The Afghan Taliban, who took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, have been accused of failing to prevent attacks on other countries from Afghan soil. The Pakistani Taliban, a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, denied involvement in the March attack, claiming their targets are security forces. However, the Pakistani Taliban’s spokesperson on Tuesday reiterated that their militants are present across the country and target security forces and military personnel. Pakistan’s military also emphasized its efforts to secure its borders, with 98% of a fence along the Afghan border completed and 91% of a fence along the Iranian border finished to prevent illegal movement, smuggling, and cross-border militant attacks.
Pakistan has seen a significant number of Afghan migrants returning to Afghanistan following a crackdown on illegal migrants, which has drawn criticism from human rights groups. Afghanistan has historically disputed the border that runs through Pashtun territories, the country’s largest ethnic group. Additionally, the military denied reports of any potential deals or talks with imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan or his party, who was ousted in April 2022. Khan had accused the military, his rival Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the United States of orchestrating his removal, an allegation that all three parties have denied.
