Team News Riveting
China today felt the heat of Islamic militancy as six of its nationals were among 10 people killed in a powerful blast on a bus in the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkwha.
The incident took place early in the morning around 7:30 am when a coaster was carrying over 30 workers, including Chinese engineers, from the Barseen camp to the Dasu hydroelectric project plant site. Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have been working on the Dasu hydroelectric project for several years in the region where the blast took place.
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority had signed a contract worth Rs 52.5 billion with the joint venture of GE Hydro China and Power China Zhongnan Engineering Corporation in 2019 for starting electro-mechanical works on the first stage of the Dasu hydroelectric power project.
Initial reports suggested that the militants ambushed the bus by detonating a powerful IED that led to the death of 10 persons including 6 Chinese engineers and 2 Pakistani soldiers, who were escorting the team. A Chinese engineer and a soldier are reportedly missing.
There were at least 30 engineers and workers travelling on the bus. The officials said the toll was likely to increase as several injured were critical. The bus plunged into a deep ravine after the blast and caused heavy losses.
Meanwhile, China asked Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the incident. Condemning the attack, Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged Pakistan to “severely punish” the perpetrators” and “earnestly protect the safety of Chinese nationals, organisations and projects” in the country.
Though no militant group had claimed the responsibility, experts suspect Pakistan Taliban extremists could be behind the incident. The insurgents had been on an expansion mode in Pakistan following the Taliban consolidating its position in Afghanistan after US troops’ sudden withdrawal.
China had come under the scanner of Islamic Militants on the issue of alleged atrocities on Uyghurs—Muslim minority in the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statement in support of China reportedly fumed the militants.
