Five Chinese engineers, local driver killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

At least five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver have been killed after their convoy was attacked by a suicide bomber in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday (Mar 26), the police confirmed. This was the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan in a week.

What we know about the incident

Mohammad Ali Gandapur, the regional police chief told Reuters that a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers which was on its way from the Pakistan capital city, Islamabad to their camp in Dasu.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Breaking | Chinese Nationals killed in Pakistan suicide blast

The attack took place in the Shangla district’s Besham city, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“Five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack,” said Gandapur. Notably.Dasu is the site of a major dam and the area has been attacked before.

Local media reports citing officials said that it was a “suicide blast” and that the provincial police had reached the spot and started relief operations.

“We will investigate from where and how the vehicle of a suicide bomber came and how it happened,” Besham station house officer Bakht Zahir told Dawn.

According to rescue officials, after the blast, the vehicle fell into a gorge and caught fire. The blaze has since been put out by the emergency team.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Also Read |Pakistan's second-biggest naval base in Balochistan attacked by separatist militant group

In 2021, at least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed during an attack on a vehicle that was carrying them to an under-construction tunnel site of the Dasu hydropower project.

China'sembassy in Pakistan released a statement after the attack and called foran investigation.

"The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan have launched an emergency plan immediately, requesting the Pakistani side to thoroughly investigate the attack and severely punish the perpetrators...(we) aretaking all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan,and to ensure such incidents will not happen again."

Attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan

Beijing has invested billions in infrastructure projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and several Chinese engineers have been working on a number of projects in the South Asian country.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari took to X and strongly condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the Chinese nationals and Beijing’s government.

He added that those who are hostile to Pakistan will “never succeed in harming Pak-China friendship”.

Also Read |Putin repeats Islamist, Ukraine link with Moscow concert attack

The attacks also come ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, reported Reuters citing a source in the PM’s Office.

The first two attacks on Chinese interests this week included the targeting of an airbase and a strategic port in the southwest province of Balochistan.

The reportedly deadly attack on Pakistan’s second-largest naval air station, the PNS Siddique in Turbat took place earlier on Tuesday (Mar 26) the responsibility of which was claimed by the Majeed Brigade of the Balochistan Liberation Army, a proscribed separatist militant organisation based in Afghanistan.

The attack on the naval air station was marked by intense gunfire and multiple explosions.

(With inputs from agencies)