Daily Times

Twenty Chinese citizens have been killed and 34 injured in terrorist attacks in the country since 2021, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) informed lawmakers on Tuesday.

During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Nacta Director Colonel Usman informed the participants that there were 14 terrorist attacks on Chinese citizens in the country since 2021 in which “20 [Chinese personnel] have been killed and 34 injured”. The committee members were informed that eight of the attacks took place in Sindh, four in Balochistan and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said that eight Pakistanis were also martyred and 25 were injured in these attacks.

The Nacta director told the committee that “a total of 20,000 Chinese nationals are settled in Pakistan” which included personnel for projects about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He added that their security was a top priority of the government.

He said that the BLA and other terrorist groups, including anti-state outfits, were involved in the attacks that mainly targeted non-CPEC projects and Chinese citizens travelling to different parts of the country.

“There has been no direct terrorist attack on CPEC projects so far,” the Nacta director said. Speaking about the safety measures taken for Chinese citizens, the Nacta director said that a high-level core group was formed at the interior ministry, comprising members from the police, security, intelligence and other departments. Interior ministry officials also briefed the meeting’s participants on CPEC projects and security measures for Chinese citizens.