Peshawar: Thirteen people, including 9 Chinese nationals, were killed as an explosive device triggered a bus blast in a remote area of northwest Pakistan on Wednesday. However, whether the explosive device was deliberately planted in the bus to kill the Chinese nationals or whether it was a result of a roadside device explosion is yet to be ascertained. The impact of the blast was such that the bus was thrown into a ravine, news agencies reported.
The Chinese embassy in Islamabad confirmed its people had been attacked. "A certain project of a Chinese firm in Pakistan suffered an attack, which caused the deaths of Chinese nationals," the Chinese embassy stated. Taking a serious note of the incident, China's foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian asked Pakistan to "severely punish" the perpetrators and ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, organisations and projects in Pakistan. While Pakistani officials told the media that nature of the blast was under investigation, certain officials in the Imran Khan government said the blast may have been carried to "tarnish Pakistan's image".
Also read: China did not fund any infra projects of CPEC: Pakistan
According to preliminary reports, the bus was carrying at least 30 Chinese workers, including engineers and surveyors, to the Dasu dam construction site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Dasu hydroelectric project is part of China's ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Belt and Road Initiative that aims to connect western China to the Gwadar sea port in southern Pakistan. China has pumped billions of dollars in Pakistan in a bid to 'boost' the economy of its all-weather ally.
However, the locals in Pakistan aren't pleased with the development as they allege the jobs are largely being awarded to outsiders and there has been no change in their standard of living.
