The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, has issued a strong statement regarding the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. He emphasized that China wants those responsible for attacks on Chinese citizens to be brought to justice, ensuring the security of Chinese personnel working in the country.
Speaking to the media after meetings with Pakistani leadership, Ambassador Jiang Zaidong congratulated Pakistan on successfully hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. He said that the frequent meetings between Chinese and Pakistani leaders in recent months reflect the close ties between the two nations. During the recent visit, the Chinese Premier and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif virtually inaugurated Gwadar Airport from Islamabad, and several important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed.
Ambassador Jiang also noted that the Chinese Premier raised concerns about the safety of Chinese nationals during these discussions. He stressed that the Chinese citizens working in Pakistan are ‘innocent’ individuals contributing to the country’s development through various projects, and any attacks against them are unacceptable.
It is important to note that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has been targeting China’s economic and military interests since 2018. Earlier this month, BLA’s Majeed Brigade carried out an attack on Chinese engineers near the Karachi Airport, resulting in the deaths of multiple Chinese engineers and Pakistani military personnel responsible for their security.
Following these attacks, and amid heightened security concerns during the SCO summit, China imposed travel restrictions on its citizens, particularly in Balochistan, and limited their movement to ensure their safety. Additionally, Karachi police have registered a case against the leadership of the Baloch Liberation Army, including its chief, Bashir Zeb, following the suicide attack on the Chinese delegation convoy near Karachi Airport.