Attack on Chinese Nationals: An attempt to alienate Pakistan.

by Tauqeer Abbas
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The terrorist attack near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Sunday night once again underscored how determined Pakistan’s enemies are to destabilize the nation and weaken its standing on the global stage. The attack targeted a convoy carrying Chinese nationals, resulting in the deaths of at least three people, including two Chinese citizens. Seventeen others were injured.

The Foreign Office condemned the incident, calling it “an attack not only on Pakistan but also on the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed this, asserting that the perpetrators are sworn enemies of Pakistan, not Pakistanis. The convoy was reportedly associated with the Port Qasim Electric Power Company. The banned Majeed Brigade, part of the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility.

This is the second attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan this year and the third involving foreign nationals. In September, a convoy of diplomats from 11 countries was targeted by an IED in Swat, resulting in casualties, and in March, nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistanis were killed in an attack on a bus. Additionally, the April 2022 Karachi University bombing claimed the lives of three Chinese teachers and one Pakistani.

These repeated assaults on foreign nationals suggest a strategic shift by terror groups, who recognize their inability to win a conventional military conflict but are exploiting Pakistan’s economic vulnerabilities and efforts to strengthen its global partnerships. Targeting Chinese nationals, in particular, strikes at the core of Pakistan’s economic and geopolitical alliances, including its critical relationship with China. The attack’s timing, just days before Pakistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, further amplifies its impact. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to attend the summit after much hesitation from the Indian side, emphasizing the importance of this regional meeting.

Terrorism in the region threatens everyone, and those who support such militant outfits must understand that a stable South Asia is in everyone’s interest. Investment and economic growth cannot thrive in an environment plagued by violence and strained international relations. However, Pakistan has endured hostile conditions for over seven decades and now must strengthen its internal security to ensure survival and growth in this challenging landscape.

Pakistan needs to prioritize bolstering its security apparatus to prevent such attacks. The police force, which is often underfunded, under-trained, and under-equipped, must receive adequate resources. Coordination between law enforcement agencies also needs improvement. Most importantly, the state must send a clear message: any internal or external attempts to destabilize the country will be met with firm resistance, and those responsible for these heinous acts will face the full force of the law, without any leniency.

Shafaqna Pakistan

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