Chinese investigators arrived in Pakistan on Friday to join a probe into the killing of five Chinese nationals in a suicide attack, as the South Asian nation grapples with a series of assaults threatening its drive to modernize the economy with Beijing's support. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, marks the third major attack on China's interests in Pakistan in just over a week, underscoring the growing security challenges faced by the two allied countries.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with the Chinese investigative team at Beijing's embassy and briefed them on the progress of the investigation, according to a statement from the interior ministry. The joint probe comes as Pakistan seeks to stem the rising tide of attacks on Chinese nationals and interests, which have seen a significant increase in recent months.
The suicide bombing targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydropower project in Pakistan's northwest, killing six people in total. The attack follows a March 20 assault on a strategic port used by China in the southwestern province of Balochistan and a March 25 attack on a naval air base, also in the southwest. Both of these incidents were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent of several separatist groups in Balochistan.
Chinese investigators arrived in Pakistan on Friday to join a probe into the killing of five Chinese nationals in a suicide attack, Pakistan's interior ministry said. Tuesday's incident was the third major attack in little over a week on China's interests in the South Asian… pic.twitter.com/dZXkPC0WQ5 — DD India (@DDIndialive) March 29, 2024
In response to the latest attack, Power Construction Corporation of China (PCCC), the engineering firm overseeing the extension of the Tarbela Hydropower Project in the same province, has reportedly suspended operations and laid off over 2,000 workers due to rising security concerns. However, the impact on the project's completion, scheduled for May 2026, is expected to be minimal, as the initiative is financially supported by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
The Dasu hydropower project has been targeted in the past, with a bus blast in 2021 killing 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals. Although no group claimed responsibility for that attack, the recurring incidents have raised alarm bells for both Pakistan and China, as they seek to protect the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative focused on economic cooperation and enhanced connectivity between the two nations.
Pakistan is home to twin insurgencies, one mounted by Islamist militants and the other by ethnic separatists who seek secession, blaming the government's inequitable division of natural resources in southwestern Balochistan province. While Chinese interests are under attack primarily by ethnic militants seeking to push Beijing out of the mineral-rich region, the site of Tuesday's bombing is far from Balochistan.
To ensure the security of Chinese activities, Pakistan has set up a dedicated force of police and military personnel, according to officials. However, the recent spate of attacks has prompted the Chinese government to issue a strong condemnation of the suicide bombing and demand a thorough investigation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an in-depth joint inquiry to identify the culprits and bolster the security of Chinese workers in Pakistan.
As the two countries work to uncover the perpetrators behind the latest attack, the mounting security challenges pose a significant threat to Pakistan's efforts to modernize its economy with the help of Chinese investment and infrastructure projects. The joint investigation, which began in late 2022 following a previous attack on China's nationals and interests, underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for Pakistan to take decisive action to protect its vital economic partnership with Beijing.
With billions of dollars at stake and the lives of Chinese and Pakistani workers on the line, the outcome of the investigation and the effectiveness of the security measures put in place will be crucial in determining the future of the CPEC and the stability of the region as a whole.
