After the attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi on Friday 23 November, different reactions by Pakistan, Chinese government and Baloch leaders have been reported.
In Karachi, three armed men had stormed in the Chinese Consulate on Friday morning, killing two police officers on the gate to gain entry inside the consulate. They also managed to get entry in visa section.
According to different reports, after at least more than one hour of heavy fighting between security forces and attackers, the security forces regained the control of the area after killing all attackers.
A Baloch armed group, Baloch liberation Army (BLA) claimed the responsibility of the attack. Jeehand Baloch, spokesman of BLA, said in a statement that the main objective of the attack was to highlight Chinese exploitative designs to the world and BLA was successful in this operation.
The attack has been reported by the media from all around the world and also strong reactions by Pakistan and Chinese governments and Baloch leaders have come across.
Reactions of Baloch Leaders
Baloch armed leader Mir Abdul Nabi Bangulzai, a prominent figure in Baloch politics, on twitter has congratulated BLA and said “attack on Chines consulate by Baloch patriots is an indicater of hatred against Chinese exploitation of Baloch wealth, love and passion for independence of motherland (Balochistan). My heartfelt tributes to the martyrs and no doubt BLA well deserves congratulations for the achievement”.
Abdul Nabi was a leader of BSO in past and also had faced years of detention due to his political activities.
Attack on Chines consulate by Baloch patriots is an indicater of hatred against #Chinese exploitation of #Balochwealth &love & passion 4 independence of motherland,https://t.co/8K64HkSbLC heartfelt tributes 2the martyrs &no dt BLA well deserves congratulations 4 ds achievement.
— Meer Abdul Nabi (@MeerAbdulNabi) November 23, 2018
Akhter Nadeem, a commander Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), another Baloch armed group, has also expressed his views on twitter, “Baloch need to cross all the red lines for national salvation. Better to kill and die with dignity than to live with the humiliation of slavery. The world must know with the measures of the martyrs that they will never give in, neither their land nor freedom”.
Baloch need to cross all the red lines for national salvation. Better to kill & die with dignity than to live with the humiliation of slavery. The world must know with the measures of the martyrs that they will never give in neither their land nor freedom. #FreeBalochistan pic.twitter.com/OkyX3XYi7U
— Sheh Akhtar Nadeem (@SAN_Baloch) November 23, 2018
Former Chairman of Baloch Student Organisation (BSO) Advocate Rahim Baloch another political known name in Balochstan has tweeted a message about the attack, saying “wiseacres usually condemn such incidents without ascertaining causes thereof. BLA’s attack not only shows anger over CPEC but it too manifests Baloch resolve for freedom, their resistance to colonisation and plundering of the resources of Balochistan.”
#ChineseConsulateKarachiAttack wiseacres usually condemn such incidents without ascertaining causes thereof.BLA’s attack not only shows anger over #CPEC but it too manifests #Baloch resolve for freedom,their resistance to colonisation & plundering of the resources of #Balochistan
— Rahim Baloch (@RahimBalochh) November 23, 2018
Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) top commander, Aslam Baloch, also hinted an increase in their attacks.
BLA’s top commander in a tweet on Friday on his twitter account which was later suspended by Twitter said that they could not stay silent while Baloch are being butchered on daily basis, they would ‘avenge them with the power in their hands’.
In another tweet he said: “We cannot remain aloof of our responsibilities regarding protection of our people and our land. We cannot stay silent if Baloch are butchered on daily basis, we will do anything in our limits to take revenge.”
In another tweet, Aslam Baloch warned the world that “they could go to any extent in order to defend their people and achieve the goal of Independence”.
He added: “The world should clearly understand that to achieve our freedom and for the defence of our people we can go to any extent”.
Aslam Baloch is the top commander of BLA, which took responsibility of Friday’s attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi. Earlier this year in August, BLA had also carried out a suicide attack targeting a bus carrying Chinese engineers in Dalbandin. The suicide bomber was Rehan Baloch, the elder son of Aslam Baloch.
Reactions of Pakistan and China
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Pakistan’s National Assembly “Those forces who do not want there to be peace in Pakistan, who want to place obstacles in the way of Pakistan’s progress, their designs have been foiled by our young soldiers”.
Pakistan will also be raising several new wings of civil armed forces to secure CPEC, which the government and military have both highlighted as a strategic priority for the country.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan in a statement on Twitter insisted that such attacks could not shake the relationship between China and Pakistan. He said the strike had clearly been intended “to scare Chinese investors” and came as a result of trade agreements announced during his trip to China this month.
Whereas, government has issued a threat alert for Chinese nationals, who are working on different Chinese projects, and ordered tightening their security after the attack.
VIP movement in Balochistan has been restricted considering the security threats, Chinese nationals have also been briefed about the concerns and have been asked not to leave premises unnecessarily.
Pakistani secret agencies have carried out several operations in Balochistan in the wake of the consulate attack.
According to latest reports received by The Balochistan Post, brothers and some other family members of one of the attackers of Chinese consulate in Karachi have been arrested by security forces from Kharan district of Balochistan on Saturday.
As per the local reports, Pakistani forces raided the house of Razaq Baloch, one of the attackers, in Kharan city and arrested his brothers and other male family members and took them to undisclosed locations.
Razaq Baloch Alias Bilal’s name was disclosed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), after the attack on Chinese consulate on Friday, when BLA claimed the responsibility of the attack and revealed the names and pictures of all three attackers claiming them its members.
Later yesterday BLA released video messages of Chinese consulate attackers in which the attackers can be seen sitting next to a flag, which is considered the flag of Baloch freedom struggle by different groups and organisations.
According to the reports received by TBP, the young man in black dress is Razaq Baloch AKA Bilal, who in the video says that Chinese evils designs and its exploitation of Baloch resources have forced Baloch youth to adopt such extreme measures.
In another unconfirmed news received by TBP that another brother of Razaq Baloch has been abducted by Pakistani forces from Washuk district of Balochistan.
Its pertinent to mention that four years ago Razaq’s family disowned him through a statement published in newspapers.
Whereas, on Saturday a FIR (First Information Report) has also been filed by police against many Baloch prominent Leaders.
China also condemned the attack and urged Pakistan to ensure the security of its citizens.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang stated in a press briefing “China strongly condemns any violent attacks against diplomatic agencies and requests that Pakistan takes practical measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country.”
The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan later issued a statement supplemented condolences over the deaths and expressing faith in Pakistani security. “We believe that the Pakistani side is able to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel in Pakistan.”
BLA has warned that it will carry out further attacks on Chinese interests in the region.