Maryam Nawaz, the Chief Minister of Punjab in Pakistan, has recently expressed her growing concerns over the safety of Chinese nationals. Following a devastating explosion that claimed the lives of five Chinese citizens, she highlighted the defiance displayed by some, when asked to adhere to security protocols.
In response, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz assured heightened security measures for Chinese nationals engaged across various projects. A high-level meeting was conducted with Lieutenant General Syed Amir Raza, the Core Commander of Lahore, and other senior military officials to discuss the safeguarding of Chinese nationals within development projects throughout Punjab.
Maryam stated that terrorism has evolved into a complex battle. "Terrorists have gone digital, and we must be vigilant on such platforms. Moreover, they possess new weaponry and technology, including American arms acquired in Afghanistan, posing a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies," she said.
The recent high-level meeting also condemned the suicide attacks on Chinese nationals. Last week, during a visit to a hydroelectric dam construction site in the Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Dasu, five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed in a suicide bombing. The attack occurred in the Bisham city of Shangla district.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all security agencies to ensure complete protection for Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan. Sharif is personally reviewing meetings concerning the nation's security, particularly the safety of Chinese citizens, and has expressed determination to continue the fight against terrorism until it is entirely eradicated from the country.
Supported by Chinese investment, which stretches into the tens of billions within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the 2015 initiative is a component of China's grand Belt and Road project. To bolster its economic prowess, China is extending the BRI from its Xinjiang province to Pakistan's Gwadar Port. This venture involves constructing everything from railways and highways to power and water plants.
China-backed projects trail through Pakistan's Balochistan, where dozens of Chinese nationals have been killed in numerous terrorist attacks. Local insurgents, especially the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), oppose such projects, frequently targeting Chinese citizens in suicide attacks. Certain locals in various regions of Pakistan express deep dissatisfaction, claiming minimal benefit from the development initiatives.
In November 2018, the BLA claimed responsibility for an attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, resulting in four fatalities. Months later, BLA fighters assaulted a luxurious hotel in Gwadar, commonly used by Chinese nationals working at the port. June 2020 saw a lethal BLA attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, where Chinese companies owned a 40% stake.
Last August, BLA militants fired upon a Pakistani military convoy in Gwadar as they escorted a group of Chinese nationals to a construction project. According to the Pakistani army, two terrorists were killed, and no military personnel or civilians suffered harm. More recently, the BLA launched an attack on Gwadar Port, causing significant damage to a section of the facility.
