Islamabad, Pakistan: There is no doubt that Pakistan and China are close partners and iron brothers, united by a bond of mutual respect and shared destiny but does this relation provide immunity to Pakistanis to attack or kill Chinese citizens?
In another event in Karachi, two Chinese nationals were shot and injured and the Foreign Office of Pakistan stated that it was a result of a firing incident following a dispute with a private guard.
The Foreign Office expressed sympathy to the families of the injured and offered prayers for their swift recovery. The statement further stated that the incident is under investigation and that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with the Ministry of Interior and the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad.
“Pakistan and China are close partners and iron brothers, united by a bond of mutual respect and shared destiny”, added the FO statement.
On October 31, 2024, Pakistan FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch expressed “surprise” over the Chinese Ambassador’s concerns about the security situation in Pakistan. Addressing the weekly briefing, Baloch said that Ambassador Jiang Zaidong’s statement “does not reflect Islamabad and Beijing diplomatic tradition.” Baloch called the Chinese envoy’s response “surprising.”
It may be mentioned that addressing a seminar in Islamabad on Tuesday, Jiang Zaidong said that two terror attacks within six months were unacceptable and the government (Pakistan) should launch a crackdown against all anti-China terrorist groups. He called security the biggest constraint to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and added that “without a safe and sound environment nothing can be achieved”.
Chinese Ambassador said that Pakistan should severely punish the perpetrators and crack down on all anti-China terrorist groups. To punish terrorists, Pakistan needs a mechanism that is directly linked with Pakistan’s justice system and it has been testified that the normal judicial system has failed to cater to the demands of dealing with terrorists.
Surprisingly, Pakistan’s Foreign Office which is known for its Western tilt hardly responds to any statement regarding the security issues within Pakistan if it comes from Western countries such as the United States or the EU but was quick to respond statement of the Chinese Ambassador.
On October 6th, a convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited was attacked near the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, which caused two Chinese died, one Chinese injured, and some local casualties. The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan strongly condemned this terrorist attack.
The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan launched an emergency plan immediately, requesting the Pakistani side to investigate the attack thoroughly, severely punish the perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Pakistan. However, the Chinese are attacked again in less than one month.
