A day after five Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide assault in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bisham, China said on Wednesday that the terrible tragedy would not disrupt the two countries’ “iron-clad friendship” and that Beijing will continue to assist Pakistan’s economic and social growth.
“No attempt to destroy Chinese-Pakistani collaboration will ever succeed. China will continue to support Pakistan’s socioeconomic development and efforts to improve people’s lives, and we remain committed to working with Pakistan in various fields and delivering more benefits to the two peoples,” said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, in a press briefing.
The move comes after a suicide bomber smashed a truck into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, killing six people, authorities said. This is the third significant attack against Chinese interests in Pakistan in a week.
The first two assaults targeted a naval station and a major port in the southwest region of Balochistan, where China is spending billions in infrastructure.
“We have observed that various nations have condemned the terrorist act and expressed sympathy to the Chinese victims. This is very appreciated. We emphasize that terrorism is the shared enemy of mankind. It is the global community’s joint obligation to combat terrorism and prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.
“China fully supports Pakistan’s battle against terrorism. “We are steadfast in our commitment to the safety and security of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects abroad,” Lin Jian stated in response to a query.
He said that China has encouraged Pakistan to expedite the search for the attackers, punish them legally, ensure justice for the victims, and take effective actions to guarantee the safety and security of Chinese workers in Pakistan.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz called for a combined inquiry by military and civilian officials into the attack on Chinese engineers, while also evaluating security procedures for its projects.
President Asif Ali Zardari also paid a visit to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, where he expressed condolences on behalf of the Pakistani government and people for the deaths of Chinese citizens in a terrorist assault in Biham.
He strongly denounced Tuesday’s terrorist assault, stating that Pakistan shares the Chinese people’s agony.
Maria Ghanchi