A suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan killed five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver by ramming his explosive-laden car into their vehicle. The attack occurred in Shangla, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as the victims were heading to the Dasu Dam, the largest hydropower project in Pakistan where they worked as construction workers and engineers. Authorities transported the bodies to a nearby hospital and initiated a search for any accomplices, launching an investigation into the attack. While no group claimed responsibility, suspicion fell on Baluch separatists, who have carried out similar attacks in the past.
Less than a week prior to this incident, Pakistani security forces had killed eight militants from the Baluchistan Liberation Army who had attacked a convoy carrying Chinese citizens outside the Chinese-funded Gwadar port in Baluchistan. The BLA seeks independence from the central government in Islamabad. Pakistan’s political and military leaders strongly condemned the recent attack, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visiting the Chinese Embassy to express his condolences and promise a high-level investigation. The Chinese Embassy also condemned the attack and urged Pakistan to thoroughly investigate and punish those responsible.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the deceased, emphasizing that Chinese citizens are friends of Pakistan. He vowed to deal with the perpetrators “with an iron hand” and assured that the attack would not impact Pakistani-Chinese relations. The military also denounced the violence, affirming its commitment to eradicate terrorism from the country despite such attacks. The attack has raised concerns among the thousands of Chinese nationals working on projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Shangla, with the CPEC being a crucial aspect of Pakistan’s economic development.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of the One Road Project, is significant for Pakistan’s government facing economic difficulties, as it encompasses major projects such as road construction, power plants, and agriculture. The CPEC is a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to reestablish the Silk Road and strengthen connectivity across Asia. Chinese workers on CPEC projects in Pakistan have frequently been targets of attacks, including an incident in July 2021 where nine Chinese nationals were among those killed in a suicide bombing near a bus carrying engineers and laborers. In response, Pakistan has heightened security measures on CPEC-related projects to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and maintain the progress of these vital initiatives.
