Five Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

[RescueRanger]

Chinese workers to resume work on hydropower project days after Besham attack​

Workers and office staff will be back to work after short suspension, says office order from Chinese construction firm

Our Correspondent
March 29, 2024

Much to regional rivals’ chagrin, China instructed its workers to resume work on the Tarbela Dam extension project days after five Chinese engineers were killed in the Besham suicide attack.

As per an office circular issued by the Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd, on March 28, “workers and office staff will be back to work after such short time suspension”.

"China will continue to develop bilateral cooperation and promote the second phase of CPEC with high-quality development in collaboration with Pakistan," said an earlier statement from the Chinese foreign ministry.

Reports in Indian media claimed that following the attack a "Chinese company halted civil works and let go of hundreds of workers at a hydropower [plant] in Pakistan".

However, the office order from the Chinese construction company brought Indian media claims to naught.

Following the attack, the Chinese embassy and consulate generals in Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

"Pakistan and China have the determination and ability to make terrorists pay the price for their actions, and any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will not succeed," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

The clear message from the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson shows that no attempt to sabotage Sino-Pak cooperation will be allowed to succeed.

He also reiterated China's stance on terrorism. "Terrorism is the common enemy of all human beings, and it is the shared responsibility of the international community to combat terrorism and prevent the recurrence of such tragedies."

China firmly supports Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts, Lin said. China will continue to support Pakistan's economic development, social development and the improvement of its people's livelihoods, he added, and it will undertake firm cooperation with Pakistan in various fields to bring benefits to the two peoples.

Separately, Islamabad also said on Thursday that there remains no doubt that the suicide attack in Besham was orchestrated by enemies of Pakistan-China friendship.

“Together, we will resolutely act against all such acts and forces and defeat them," said FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

She further expressed Islamabad’s determination to work with Beijing in ensuring the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan.

PM demands probe

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed a thorough joint investigation into the Besham terrorist attack utilising all state resources.

Chairing an emergency meeting following the attack, the prime minister praised the swift response of law enforcement and locals, which saved many lives.

The meeting was attended by the federal ministers, chief of the army staff, chief ministers, chief secretaries and inspector generals of police of respective provinces, a PM Office press release said.

Besham attack

A vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in the remote Besham area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, killing six people.

The Chinese engineers were en route from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu – the district headquarters of the Upper Kohistan district of K-P. Their vehicle was hit by an explosive-laden vehicle, coming from the opposite direction, near Lahore Nala on the Karakoram Highway.

As expected this is the BAU response. The GOP need to crack some heads together, the usual halwa of “JIT and somber apology” won’t cut it. Nor will grand boasts of “fool proof security” lol…

What is needed is to have an honest conversation with our partners and our internal stakeholders about what ails us and what the remedy is.

But these conversations lead to difficult decisions and this is where people trip over their own ego.

 

[arjunk]

As expected this is the BAU response. The GOP need to crack some heads together, the usual halwa of “JIT and somber apology” won’t cut it. Nor will grand boasts of “fool proof security” lol…

What is needed is to have an honest conversation with our partners and our internal stakeholders about what ails us and what the remedy is.

But these conversations lead to difficult decisions and this is where people trip over their own ego.

You expect too much high level thinking. All these clowns care about is fattening their stomachs and wallets. Occasionally they will elaborately plot ways to harass their political enemies and their families.

 

[Goenitz]

 

[RescueRanger]

I really like Mr.Pirzada and he’s absolutely correct about the Chinese understanding and grasp of Grand Strategic planning.

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that many senior Chinese academics came to Pakistan between 2003- 2019 and one such person who’s lecture and talks I attended in Islamabad was Professor Zhou Rong, professor Rong spent 10 years living and studying Pakistan:

A DECADE OF LEARNING PAKISTAN

A DECADE OF LEARNING PAKISTAN

www.youlinmagazine.com

The Chinese are heavily invested in Pakistan and see Pakistan as a long term strategic partner. And despite the nay sayers on this forum, China and Pakistan are in this for the long haul.

The Chinese are fully aware of the threats to their interests inside Pakistan and beyond, it’s just a shame that we as a nation can’t do more to ensure the safety of joint interests inside our own borders.

This is why it’s more important now than it’s ever been to get a grip of the drivers and dynamics driving militancy, terrorism and projecting a well defined policy with a unified voice.

 

[DevendraRajput]

I really like Mr.Pirzada and he’s absolutely correct about the Chinese understanding and grasp of Grand Strategic planning.

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that many senior Chinese academics came to Pakistan between 2003- 2019 and one such person who’s lecture and talks I attended in Islamabad was Professor Zhou Rong, professor Rong spent 10 years living and studying Pakistan:

There is one thing that Chinese have not learnt till now... It is not possible to retire in China as a Pakistani nor is it possible to settle kids in China as a Pakistani..

It is very very visible from the fact that the only place which was like a "Twilight Zone" of democracy and Chinese style single party rule has now been swallowed up, ie, Hong Kong.

And west will make full use of this vulnerability.

 

[ghazi52]

Chinese investigators arrive to join probe into Besham suicide attack​

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets Chinese team at Beijing's embassy

Reuters
March 29, 2024

Chinese workers were targeted by a suicide bomber who rammed into their vehicle on a mountainous road near one of the dam sites. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Chinese investigators arrived in Pakistan on Friday to join a probe into the killing of five Chinese nationals in a suicide attack, the interior ministry said, seeking to stem assaults threatening Islamabad's drive to modernise the economy.

Tuesday's incident was the third major attack in little over a week on China's interests in Pakistan, where Beijing has invested more than $65 billion in infrastructure projects as part of its wider Belt and Road initiative.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met the Chinese team of investigators at Beijing's embassy and briefed them on the investigation so far, said a statement issued by the government.

Two days earlier, officials shared with the Chinese embassy the preliminary findings of their investigation into the attack.

In late 2022, the two allied countries started a joint investigation into an attack that year on China's nationals and its interests, which have seen a rise in recent months.



Also read: Chinese workers to resume work on hydropower project days after Besham attack

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack, in which a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project at Dasu, killing six people.

The bombing followed a March 20 attack on Gwadar port used by China in Balochistan, where Beijing has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects, and a March 25 assault on a naval air base in Turbat.

Both attacks were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent of several separatist groups in Balochistan.

Dasu, the site of a major dam, has been attacked in the past, with a bus blast in 2021 killing 13 people, nine Chinese among them, although no group claimed responsibility.

Chinese interests are under attack primarily by ethnic militants seeking to push Beijing out of mineral-rich Balochistan, but that area is far from the site of Tuesday's bombing.

Pakistan has set up a dedicated force of police and military to ensure security for Chinese activities, officials say.

 

[SaadH]

I really like Mr.Pirzada and he’s absolutely correct about the Chinese understanding and grasp of Grand Strategic planning.

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that many senior Chinese academics came to Pakistan between 2003- 2019 and one such person who’s lecture and talks I attended in Islamabad was Professor Zhou Rong, professor Rong spent 10 years living and studying Pakistan:

A DECADE OF LEARNING PAKISTAN

A DECADE OF LEARNING PAKISTAN

www.youlinmagazine.com

The Chinese are heavily invested in Pakistan and see Pakistan as a long term strategic partner. And despite the nay sayers on this forum, China and Pakistan are in this for the long haul.

The Chinese are fully aware of the threats to their interests inside Pakistan and beyond, it’s just a shame that we as a nation can’t do more to ensure the safety of joint interests inside our own borders.

This is why it’s more important now than it’s ever been to get a grip of the drivers and dynamics driving militancy, terrorism and projecting a well defined policy with a unified voice.

Apparently the previous chief Bajwa didn't get the memo on Chinese "strategic interest" in Pakistan and to his last day yearned for more blessings from the largest trade partner.

And now the apple hasn't fallen far from Bajwa's ideological son Munira Whisky, who is also looking for validation through his immediate in line boss #GenocideBlinkin.

If anything Chinese interest now is strictly of commercial in nature and they are looking to recover as much of their investment as possible, before walking away from this colonial outpost for good.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Please elaborate

• who brought them into Pakistan
• who gave them NIC
• who gave them Passports
• who gave them airport access

List is long & end only where it all matters.

Pakistan's Imran Khan pledges citizenship for 1.5m Afghan refugees

PM’s offer reverses decades of hostility in official policy but analysts question motives

www.google.com

Along with criminal Afghans and corrupt nadra officials.

Now dozens of thousands of them hold our passport.. remember what happened in KSA and UAE?
Remember how that shabbat Gul national geo fame was found living with her entire family with fake CNICs?

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Hope they don't takeover administration of the area. How did Pak agreed to this insulting gesture??

How did you when you allowed ISI officials to come to uri.

That should have been much more embarrassing than Pak allowing joint investigations with chinese whose citizens died on our soil.. working on Pak projects. Which was essentially our failure.

 

[Goenitz]

How to reduce terrorism effectively in Pakistan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1774293439284224050

 

[Jayetsena]

How did you when you allowed ISI officials to come to uri.

That should have been much more embarrassing than Pak allowing joint investigations with chinese whose citizens died on our soil.. working on Pak projects. Which was essentially our failure.

There is difference between sneaking and coming official. For sneaking we have retailated, what are you doing?? Rolling red carpet?

 

[Khansaheeb]

View attachment 29004

Looks like there probably was no way to avoid an explosion in such a narrow road. Likely the attacker came from the opposite end and exploded himself. I doubt the convoy would have allowed anyone to overtake them.

Some convoys have Chinese security, very tough in their safety and no nonsense approach, would be interesting to know if it was Chinese or Pakistani security that failed.

 

[RescueRanger]

Some convoys have Chinese security, very tough in their safety and no nonsense approach, would be interesting to know if it was Chinese or Pakistani security that failed.

No brother this is incorrect. I have already explained that the security of all convoys is managed directly by Pakistan.

Physical Security:

National Level:
S.S.D have complete oversight = 9 battalions, six wings = 13,700 personnel dedicated to security of CPEC. Headed by a Major General of Pakistan Army reporting directly to GHQ. Over 5000 of these personnel will be dedictaed to counter-terrorism and crisis response capacity [LCB Baloch Regiment]

AGPL (APL/Askari) have national contract for PSC contract for all things CPEC [this is restricted to residential security teams and some limited CP details].

Provincial Level:

KPK:
In KPK SSU (CPEC) has control of escort duties for all CPEC personnel and projects. Some 400+ constables were merged into this unit in 2021.

Current Commandant - D.I.G. Muhammad Zafar Ali

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Balochistan:
Six wings (5,700 personnel) of the Frontier Corps, 3,000 police constables and 1,000 Levies personnel would guard all the routes.

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Punjab:
3,500 policemen, 900 Rangers, 4,100 private security guards and 740 Askari Guards would protect various projects linked to the economic corridor in Punjab.

In total some 32,000 security personnel including private guards from Askari and 500 security personnel from China have been assigned to CPEC security as of 2015*

---

The interior ministry of Pakistan revised the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the protection of Chinese nationals, investors, and experts, especially those participating in the CPEC initiatives in Feb 2022 which included among other things the following caveat:
Chinese nationals utilize reinforced vehicles and notify the appropriate authorities and police stations prior to their visits.

--
There is a contingent of 500 Chinese security personnel but these are based in Gawadar only.

 

[.44 Magnum Lever Action]

Looking at this from an operational standpoint alone, this circle of inbred Re**rds making decisions and even dumber ones following without question seem to never move from their posts.

By the the time the first attack occurred many, many, many years ago, it should have been obvious that convoys are vulnerable and the environment requires mine resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAP). The army has thousands of them and several variants are 100% produced in Pakistan. I like hammering this point home because it is extremely low hanging and juicy fruit, as the sight of blown up pickup trucks, rickshaws, buses and whatever else is being fielded by internal security for, has become a literal meme associated with Pak Fauj. Transporting foreign engineers in a bus made out of cardboard, knowing that they have been targeted for many, many, many years...is like offering a Michelin star dinner to a pack of hungry dogs. This isn't even Boy Scouts level of incompetence this has to be the result of one thing alone and that is inbreeding.

 

[Xiaolong]

Ensuring the security of Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is crucial. Speaking with ordinary Chinese citizens in China or those involved in these projects would reveal that they are worried about their security because we have repeatedly failed to provide it for them. Allowing Chinese personnel to assist Pakistani security forces can help alleviate concerns among Chinese citizens working on these projects. This collaboration could also ease the burden on Pakistani security forces, enabling them to focus on combating terrorism and enhancing overall security. However, such a strategy may challenge the perceived authority of the ruling class in Pakistan.