SHANGLA, PK – A deadly suicide bombing unfolded in the northwest region of Pakistan on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of five Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver, according to local law enforcement and government officials.
The incident occurred in Shangla, a district within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as reported by Bakhat Zahir, the local police chief. The victims, identified as construction workers and engineers, were en route to the Dasu Dam, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project, where they were employed.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan, has seen an uptick in attacks orchestrated by the Pakistani Taliban in recent years.
Following the attack, officials transported the victims’ bodies to a nearby hospital and initiated a comprehensive search for potential accomplices. An investigation into the bombing was also launched by local police.
This latest act of violence comes on the heels of an incident last week where Pakistani security forces eliminated eight militants from the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA). The militants had targeted a convoy transporting Chinese citizens near the Chinese-funded Gwadar port in the turbulent southwestern province of Baluchistan. The BLA has been advocating for independence from Islamabad’s central government.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned Tuesday’s attack and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a statement, Naqvi referred to the victims as “friends of Pakistan” and pledged to deal decisively with those responsible. He expressed optimism that the incident would not strain the relationship between Pakistan and China.
Naqvi also visited the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, where he briefed Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong on the attack and promised a thorough investigation.
Shangla is home to thousands of Chinese nationals working on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a critical initiative for Pakistan’s struggling economy. The CPEC, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, includes a range of mega projects in areas like road construction, power plants, and agriculture.
Chinese laborers involved in CPEC-related projects have been targeted in attacks in recent years. In July 2021, a suicide bombing near a bus transporting Chinese and Pakistani engineers and laborers resulted in the death of 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals. In response, Pakistan has increased security measures on CPEC-related projects.