In the last four years, 62 people working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have been killed in eight attacks across Pakistan, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has revealed.
According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, a total of eight attacks on foreigners working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) took place between 2020 and 2024, resulting in the death of 62 people.
Two attacks on Chinese engineers working on CPEC projects took place in Balochistan, four in Sindh and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Notably, a “pro-freedom” Baloch armed group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed Brigade, has been behind most of the high profile attacks on Chinese citizens working on the CPEC project. Meanwhile, contrary to the government’s official data, the number of deaths and attacks is higher.
It’s should be noted that Beijing emphasizes Pakistan to address Chinese projects and engineers’ security concerns continuously.
On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Pakistani Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Isaq Dar in China’s capital Beijing on Wednesday. In the bilateral strategic dialogue China welcomed Pakistan and reaffirmed economic and counter-terrorism cooperation with neighboring countries.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, along with Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, held a press conference on Wednesday, which was broadcast live by Pakistan’s official TV.
The press conference was being held at a time when five engineers were killed in a car attack on a Chinese engineer convoy in Pakistan in recent weeks. These engineers were working on a hydropower project in Dasu. The local driver of the engineers was also killed in the suicide attack.
The Pakistani army claimed the attack on March 26, claiming that the attack was allegedly carried out by an Afghan citizen, while the army alleged that the terrorists in Afghanistan had planned the attack.
Chinese Foreign Minister said that Pakistan had assured that it would do everything possible to bring the elements involved in the attack to justice. Chinese media quoted Wang Yi as saying that Islamabad will ensure the protection of Chinese citizens, projects and Chinese institutions while the concerns of Chinese businesses and individuals will be eliminated.
Speaking at the press conference, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the situation in Afghanistan was also discussed in talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
According to him, the leaders of the two countries agreed that peace and stability in Afghanistan is essential for the development, relations and prosperity of the region.
Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan is concerned about terrorist shelters in Afghanistan, adding Islamabad demands the interim government of Afghanistan to take certified action against the elements that are using Afghanistan’s land to sabotage the peace and security of its neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban have been constantly denying the use of Afghan soil in the attack on Chinese engineers. Kabul has constantly reiterated that no one will be allowed to threaten any country, including Pakistan, from Afghanistan.