China announced on Thursday its commitment to collaborate with Pakistan in ensuring the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects following the tragic killing of two Chinese engineers by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed unawareness of reports suggesting that Pakistani authorities were planning to restrict the movements of Chinese citizens due to security concerns related to militant threats during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting.
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed the deaths of the engineers, with another injured, alongside local casualties. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the embassy to extend condolences and emphasized cooperation in addressing security issues. Following the attack, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against BLA leaders, attributing the bombing to a suicide attack targeting a convoy of Chinese nationals.
Security agencies have alleged that the BLA, purportedly aided by a foreign intelligence agency, aims to disrupt Pakistan-China relations. In response to heightened security risks, the federal government declared a three-day holiday in Islamabad from October 14 to facilitate the SCO summit. Meanwhile, ceremonies were held to repatriate the bodies of the deceased engineers, reflecting the solidarity between Pakistan and China amidst the ongoing challenges.
