A devastating suicide bombing targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic loss of five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver, as reported by Reuters.
The attack occurred as the convoy, comprising Chinese engineers working on projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), traveled from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur confirmed that the suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the convoy, leading to the fatalities.
Bisham Station House Officer Bakht Zahir labeled the incident as a “suicide blast,” stating that authorities were diligently gathering evidence at the scene. Security measures were swiftly reinforced, with the bodies of the victims being transferred to a nearby hospital for further procedures.
This tragic event marks the third significant attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week, following assaults on an airbase and a strategic port in the southwest province of Balochistan, where China has made substantial investments in infrastructure projects.
The region where the attack occurred, Dasu, has been a focal point for Chinese and Pakistani construction workers involved in hydroelectric projects as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, it has also been a recurrent target for terrorist activities, with a previous attack in 2021 resulting in the deaths of nine Chinese nationals and two Pakistani children. Investigations revealed that the incident, initially mistaken for a bus accident, was indeed a terrorist attack targeting a bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers.
As authorities initiate investigations into this latest attack, concerns over the safety of Chinese nationals working on vital infrastructure projects in Pakistan remain heightened, underscoring the persistent security challenges faced by both nations in the region.
