Five Chinese, one Pakistani killed in terrorist attack near Besham

ISLAMABAD (APP): Five Chinese and one Pakistani national were killed on Tuesday in a terrorist attack near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a statement.

“The government of Pakistan strongly condemns this heinous act of terrorism,” the statement said adding “We will take all necessary measures to bring the terrorists and their facilitators to justice. Such dastardly acts cannot dent the resolve of Pakistani nation to fight against the scourge of terrorism”.

Today’s attack was orchestrated by the enemies of Pakistan-China friendship. The government will resolutely act against all such forces and defeat them.

The people and government of Pakistan stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Chinese friends in this difficult time and extend sincere condolences to the families of the Chinese nationals killed in the attack.

Pakistan and China are close friends and iron brothers. The life and safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan is of paramount importance.

 

Pakistan will continue to work with our Chinese brothers in ensuring the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan, the statement added.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday in a statement said that with the unwavering support of the resilient nation and the country’s iron-clad ally China, the Armed Forces would ensure that all those involved in aiding terrorism, directly or indirectly, are held accountable and find their due comeuppance.

“Together we will prevail over adversity and evil. INSHA ALLAH,” the ISPR news release said.

It added that the recent incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, notably in Gwadar, Turbat, and Besham, were dastardly acts aimed at destabilizing the internal security situation.

While the first two attempts were successfully thwarted by the armed forces, the latest incident at Besham led to the loss of six innocent civilians including five Chinese nationals.

“The whole nation stands in solidarity with our Chinese brothers and unequivocally condemn this cowardly act.

Strategic projects and sensitive sites vital for Pakistan’s economic progress and the well-being of its people are being targeted as a conscious effort to retard our progress and sow discord between Pakistan and its strategic allies and partners, most notably China,” the ISPR said.

It mentioned that certain foreign elements  were complicit in aiding and abetting terrorism in Pakistan, driven by their vested interests. Despite the veneer of innocence, these elements are being continuously exposed as sponsors of terror.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday visited the Chinese embassy here to convey condolence over the killing of five Chinese nationals in a terrorist attack in Bisham, and assured a swift and high-level probe into the incident.

The prime minister, in an interaction with the Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong sympathised with the bereaved families of the slain Chinese nationals, a PM Office press release said.

He assured the Chinese side that the government would hold a high-level and swift probe into the attack and take the culprits and facilitators to the task.

The prime minister also conveyed his condolence message to the Chinese president and premier.

“We will not let such nefarious attempts to undermine the Pak-China friendship succeed. The enemies of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have again tried to interrupt it through such cowardly attempt but the enemy will never succeed in its evil designs,” the prime minister remarked.

He also reiterated the country’s resolve to continue fighting against terrorism till its complete eradication.

The Chinese ambassador thanked the prime minister for visiting the embassy and showing personal interest in the investigation of the incident. He also appreciated the prime minister’s determination to maintain Pak-China friendly ties.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi accompanied the prime minister.

Meanwhile in his post on X (formerly Twitter), the prime minister strongly condemned the attack against Pakistan-China friendship.

“Our two countries express firm resolve to bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice,” he added.