Share this @internewscast.com

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan rammed his explosive-laden car into a vehicle Tuesday, killing five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver, police and government officials said.

The attack happened in Shangla, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police chief Bakhat Zahir said. He added that the five killed were construction workers and engineers heading to the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Pakistan, where they worked.

Authorities said the bodies were transported to a nearby hospital, and that security forces started a search in the area to look for accomplices. Police also launched an investigation into the attack.

No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion is likely to fall on Baluch separatists, who have claimed previous such attacks.

Tuesday’s attack came less than a week after Pakistani security forces killed eight Baluchistan Liberation Army militants who opened fire on a convoy carrying Chinese citizens outside the Chinese-funded Gwadar port in the volatile southwestern province of Baluchistan.

The BLA wants independence from the central government in Islamabad.

Pakistan’s top political and military leadership denounced the attack.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy where he met with the Chinese ambassador, Jiang Zaidong, a government statement said. It said that Sharif condemned the attack, saying those who orchestrated it would be punished and that there would be a high-level investigation.

“The sympathies of the entire nation, including me, are with the families of the Chinese citizens” who were killed in the attack, he said.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy condemned the attack and said it had requested Pakistan to “thoroughly investigate the attack and severely punish the perpetrators.”

Earlier, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.

“The enemy has targeted Chinese citizens who are the friends of Pakistan,” he said in a statement, without saying whom he was referring to. He also vowed to deal with those responsible “with an iron hand,” and expressed hope that the attack would not negatively affect Pakistani-Chinese relations.

Naqvi also visited the Chinese Embassy in the capital, Islamabad, where he briefed the Chinese ambassador about the attack, promising a full investigation, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Also Tuesday, Pakistan’s military denounced the attack.

“Such heinous acts of violence against innocent civilians, foreigners and the armed forces will not deter the resolve of the Pakistani people, its security forces and our partners to root out the menace (of) terrorism from our country,” it said in a statement.

Thousands of Chinese nationals work in Shangla on projects relating to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which includes a multitude of megaprojects such as road construction, power plants and agriculture.

The CPEC, also known as the One Road Project, is a lifeline for Pakistan’s cash-strapped government, currently facing one of its worst economic crises. The project is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global endeavor aimed at reconstituting the Silk Road and linking China to all corners of Asia.

Chinese laborers working on CPEC-related projects in Pakistan have come under attack in recent years.

In July 2021, at least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle near a bus carrying Chinese and Pakistani engineers and laborers, prompting the Chinese companies to suspend work at the time.

Since then, Pakistan has beefed up security on CPEC-related projects.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Charlie Kirk assassination: Exclusive photos show path to campus rooftop weeks later as access scrutinized

Charlie Kirk Incident: New Photos Reveal Route to Campus Rooftop Amid Security Review

“Many campus police departments do not have drone programs, which poses a…
Jeanette Olivo not guilty by reason of insanity in stabbing of dog on Chicago's Northwest Side in 2022, police say

Chicago Incident: Jeanette Olivo Found Not Guilty in 2022 Dog Stabbing Due to Insanity Defense

CHICAGO (WLS) — A woman was found not guilty by reason of…
Portland police seek public's help after 'safe space' officer loses track of assault suspect near ICE facility

Portland Police Request Public Assistance After ‘Safe Space’ Officer Loses Assault Suspect Near ICE Facility

The police are asking for help from the public to locate a…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy students to travel from Lakeview, Chicago to Vatican City for audience with Pope Leo XIV

Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Lakeview, Chicago to Visit Vatican City for a Meeting with Pope Leo XIV

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Wednesday, a group of traveling students from Our…
Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment

Trump Leverages Government Shutdown for Firings and Political Retribution

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is approaching the government shutdown as…
Federal agents raid Dallas strip club, arrest 41 illegal immigrants in human trafficking investigation

Federal Agents Conduct Raid on Dallas Strip Club, Arrest 41 in Human Trafficking Probe

Federal agents lifted the veil at a Dallas strip club, apprehending dozens…
Son accused of brutally beating his mother to death with gardening tool over inheritance: police

Man Allegedly Kills Mother in Violent Attack Using Garden Tool in Dispute Over Inheritance: Authorities

A Missouri man is behind bars after authorities say he allegedly beat…
Assata Shakur's shameless hero-worshippers deserve our disgust and condemnation

Why Celebrating Assata Shakur is Problematic and Deserves Criticism

Everyone who refuses to denounce allies celebrating a cop-killer deserves disdain, so…
ICE in Chicago news: Legal advocates call for ban on ICE arrests without warrants at Cook County courthouses

Chicago News: Legal Advocates Demand Ban on ICE Arrests Without Warrants at Cook County Courthouses

CHICAGO (WLS) — Legal advocates want ICE to stop making arrests outside…
National parks will remain 'generally' open during the shutdown, but Liberty Bell doors are closed

Most National Parks to Stay Open Amid Shutdown, but Liberty Bell is Off-Limits

NEW YORK (AP) — A sizable crowd boarded boats to explore the…
Florida brides face sudden venue closure before weddings

Unexpected Venue Closure Disrupts Weddings for Florida Brides

Chez L’Amour’s closure has set off a dispute between the owner and…
Drunk 13-year-old crashes stolen vehicle with 11-year-old passenger inside in Arizona

Intoxicated 13-Year-Old Crashes Stolen Car with 11-Year-Old Passenger in Arizona

A drunken teen allegedly crashed a stolen vehicle with an 11-year-old passenger…