Pakistan arrests 11 militants linked to suicide bombing that killed five Chinese engineers

Officials in Pakistan said on Sunday (May 26) that authorities have arrested 11 Islamist militants who were involved in the suicide bombing that killed Chinese engineers in March.

The attack in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province forced Power China and the China Gezhouba Company to halt work on two dam projects after a bomb killed five workers and a Pakistani driver, plunging their van down a deep ravine.

Hundreds of Chinese workers are employed at the Dasu and Diamer Bhasha dam construction sites, which are around 100 kilometres away in the hilly terrain.

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Pakistan's counter-terrorism chief Rai Tahir along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement at a news conference.

As per the authorities, the arrested men belong to the local Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is an umbrella group of dozens of Sunni Islamists and sectarian militant groups.

According to Tahir, the arrest of the suspects was made possible by the suicide bomber's use of a mobile to communicate with his local handlers.

He said that the investigation and evidence revealed that the militants were following orders from TTP officials in Afghanistan.

Pakistan blames Afghanistan

The Pakistani military had earlier claimed the attack was plotted in Afghanistan and that the suicide bomber was also an Afghan national. Kabul denies the claims.

"We have forensic evidence to prove that the TTP militants who were operating from Afghanistan are involved in it," claimed Minister Naqvi.

Beijing is Islamabad's closest partner as China routinely provides financial aid to its neighbour and invests millions in infrastructure projects.

However, Pakistanis have complained that they do not receive a fair share of the jobs or cash created by the enterprises.

(With inputs from agencies)