Twenty Chinese citizens have been killed and 34 injured in terrorist attacks in the country since 2021, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) informed lawmakers on Tuesday.
October’s airport bombing that killed two Chinese engineers returning to work on a project after a holiday in Thailand was the latest in a string of high-profile attacks on Beijing’s interests in Pakistan.
The attack was claimed by the banned outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Police registered a first information report against leaders of the BLA and others three days after the incident.
The attacks have angered China, which has pushed the federal government to begin formal negotiations for a joint security management system. Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts remain a key topic of discussion between the two countries due to the rising frequency of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.
During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives today, Nacta Director Colonel Usman informed the participants that there were 14 terrorist attacks on Chinese citizens in the country since 2021 in which “20 [Chinese personnel] have been killed and 34 injured”.
He said that eight Pakistanis were also martyred and 25 were injured in these attacks.
The Nacta director told the committee that “a total of 20,000 Chinese nationals are settled in Pakistan” which included personnel for projects about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He added that their security was a top priority of the government.
Interior ministry officials also briefed the meeting’s participants on CPEC projects and security measures for Chinese citizens.
Questioned by PTI MNA Dawar Kundi regarding an agreement to give money to the families of the deceased Chinese citizens, interior ministry officials clarified that no such agreement had been reached and said the government had decided to give the money on its own.
Speaking about the security measures taken for Chinese citizens, the officials said that a high-level core group was formed at the ministry for this purpose.
More to follow.
