ISLAMABAD (Dunya News/Web Desk) – As China pressed Pakistan for severely punish those involved in Shangla terror attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday (today) to discuss the matters related to the security of Chinese working in the country on different projects.
With Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir and the heads of different spy agencies among the participants, as the country’s leadership is analysing the latest situation developing after the rise in terrorism acts, with a special focus on how to the secure the Chinese citizens in the country.
Five Chinese engineers and a local driver were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into their convoy on Tuesday, as they headed back to their base camp near Dasu – the headquarters of Upper Kohistan district – from Islamabad.
Reacting to the barbaric attack, the Chinese embassy in a statement strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said they were making every effort to handle the aftermath together with the Pakistani side.
And emergency plan had been launched immediately, the statement read which also mentioned a request to Islamabad to thoroughly investigate the attack and severely punish the perpetrators.
The Chinese mission in Pakistan was taking all necessary measures to protect its citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan, it added.
ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE CPEC
Also on Tuesday, the prime minister rushed to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad soon after the terror attack and promised blanket security for the Chinese nationals as well as a comprehensive probe into the suicide bombing.
He said the government would not the nefarious attempts to undermine the relations between the two countries and sabotage the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
DESTABILISING PAKISTAN AND TARGETING CHINA
Separately, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the series of incidents over the past few days, including the Gwadar and Turbat attacks, were aimed at destabilising the country and cited the role of foreign elements in fuelling terrorism in Pakistan.
An ISPR statement read, “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.”
“With the unwavering support of the resilient nation and our iron-clad ally China, we will 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,” the ISPR said.