ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: Beijing has termed as “unacceptable” the fact that two deadly terror attacks targeted Chinese nationals within only six months in Pakistan and demanded that Islamabad should launch a crackdown against all anti-China terrorist groups.
In a rare instance of public expression of pique, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, speaking at a seminar titled ‘China at 75’, said that security lapses were the biggest constraint to the multi-billion dollar CPEC project. “Without safe and sound environment nothing can be achieved,” he stressed.
In March this year, two Chinese nationals were killed in an attack on a convoy of Chinese workers near Gawadar, Balochistan province. The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the latest instance, earlier this month on October 7, two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near Karachi’s international airport. The Chinese embassy in Pakistan described it as a “terrorist attack”.
Earlier, in March last year, five Chinese engineers and their local driver were killed in a suicide blast in northwest Pakistan while traveling from the capital to the Dasu dam, the country’s largest hydropower project, being built by China.
The ambassador spoke twice during the seminar, organised by the Pakistan China Institute of stalwart politician Senator Mushahid Hussain.
Jiang first spoke before the speech of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and then he used his right to reply after Dar’s remarks on the security for the Chinese, according to the tribune.com.pk.
“It is very unacceptable for us to be attacked twice in only six months and these attacks have also caused causalities,” Ambassador Jiang said. He added that Beijing hoped that the Pakistani side could further strengthen the security measures to protect Chinese personnel, institutions and projects.
“Pakistan should severely punish the perpetrators and crack down on all anti-China terrorist groups,” said the ambassador during his second unusual intervention. “Security is the biggest concern for China and a constraint to CPEC in Pakistan
The Chinese ambassador’s comments came shortly after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s acknowledgment of Chinese concerns regarding investments in Pakistan due to an uncertain terror laden climate, as well as frequent breaches in security.
Dar mentioned conversations with the Chinese leadership, underscoring their investment hesitance in regions plagued by security issues, though Pakistan remains an exception due to its strategic importance.
Dar said that Pakistan was taking action against the terrorists and the progress would be shared during next week’s meeting between President Asif Zardari and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese ambassador’s curt stance at the seminar, and using his right to reply highlighted the growing impatience of Beijing over security issues, marking a rare moment of public diplomacy where he openly criticised the host nation’s security measures.
He went on to emphasise that China hopes to deepen its economic ties with Pakistan for mutual development, but can do so only when security is strengthened. (AGENCIES)
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