News Brief
Pakistan: Four Chinese Nationals Killed By Baloch Fighters In Gwadar Days After Xi Jinping Backed Rawalpindi's 'Anti-Terror Action Plan'
A blast in Balochistan. (Representative Image)
Four Chinese engineers and nine Pakistani Army personnel lost their lives in one of the largest attacks carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in the Gwadar region of Pakistan on Sunday.
Attributed to the BLA's Majeed Brigade, the attack was executed by two fidayeens. The Chinese Consulate in Karachi promptly issued a security advisory for Chinese citizens in response to the assault.
Gwadar port holds strategic significance as a key point in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar project that passes through Indian territory under Pakistan's illegal control. Numerous Chinese workers are engaged in operations at the port, reflecting China's substantial investments in Balochistan under the CPEC initiative.
The development comes just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his support for Pakistan's national anti-terrorism strategy in a letter to Pakistan President Arif Alvi. The message came on the heels of a devastating bomb explosion in Pakistan's Khayber Pakhtunkhwa region, which resulted in more than 45 fatalities.
In the communication, Xi reaffirmed China's unwavering commitment to stand alongside Pakistan in its endeavors to combat terrorism and collectively ensure peace and security.
This incident is not the first instance of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan being targetted by militant outfits.
Chinese engineers and technicians working on CPEC-related projects across Balochistan and other territories administered by the Pakistan Army have repeatedly been targeted by various militant factions.
These groups protest against the excesses by Rawalpindi and demand greater local resource control, fearing that such control might not be attainable due to the projects financed and executed by the Chinese.
Over the past decade, several Chinese nationals have been killed in attacks by such outfits, including those fighting to establish a Baloch nation.
Nevertheless, China consistently shields acknowledged terrorist entities located in Pakistan from global censure at the United Nations Security Council. This is evident in its repeated thwarting of attempts to list terrorists involved in attacks on Indian soil.
A recent case involved China's obstruction of a proposal by India and the United Sstates to designate Sajid Mir, a member of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, as a global terrorist for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
India has voiced concerns about China prioritizing "petty geopolitical interests" over the fight against terrorism. The Indian government emphasized that this obstruction highlights a lack of genuine political will to effectively combat the menace of terrorism.
While Xi's assurance of support for Pakistan's national anti-terror plan has drawn mockery from Indian netizens. Critics interpreted this gesture as a commitment to shield Pakistani terrorists at the United Nations.
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