A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project in northwest Pakistan, killing six people. This was the third major attack on Chinese interests in the country in a week, following incidents at an airbase and a port in Balochistan. The engineers were traveling from Islamabad to their camp at the construction site in Dasu when the attack occurred. Five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were among those killed.
The area of Dasu has been targeted in the past, with a previous bombing on a bus in 2021 resulting in the deaths of 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals. Chinese engineers have been involved in various infrastructure projects in Pakistan, with Beijing investing over US$65 billion as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). No group has claimed responsibility for the recent attack, nor for the previous incident in 2021. Pakistan faces challenges from both extremists and ethnic militants seeking secession.
While ethnic militants have primarily targeted Chinese interests in Balochistan due to its mineral-rich resources, the recent attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was carried out by extremists who typically operate in the country’s northwest. The Chinese embassy in Islamabad did not immediately comment on the attack, and construction work at the dam project was halted for months following the 2021 incident. The attacks come just before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Beijing, marking his first trip since taking office after February elections.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have initiated relief operations in response to the attack, which targeted staff from the construction firm China Gezhouba Group Company (CGGC) working on the hydropower project. The Pakistani government has condemned the attack, reiterating its commitment to fighting against militants. As Pakistan continues to face security challenges from various insurgencies, the incidents at Chinese projects highlight the risks faced by foreign companies and individuals operating in the country. The attacks also underscore the importance of security measures in ensuring the safety of workers and preventing further violence.
