Plot to kill Chinese engineers in Pakistan hatched in Afghanistan, says DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressed the press conference on Tuesday.

On the issue of terrorism, the military’s spokesperson stressed that there is “irrefutable evidence” of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) using Afghanistan against the country.

While addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi today, DG ISPR stated that the plot to kill Chinese engineers in Besham was hatched in neighboring Afghanistan.

During the presser, he said the suicide bomber was an Afghan national and the vehicle used in the attack was also prepared in Afghanistan. He said four other key culprits have been arrested by the law enforcement agencies.

Major General Sharif said it is our priority to ensure the security of all Chinese nationals and will leave no stone unturned to eliminate the terrorist network.

READ MORE: Security forces gunned down six terrorists in North Waziristan: ISPR

The DG ISPR pointed out that there are twenty-nine thousand Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Of these, twenty-five hundred Chinese are engaged with CPEC-related projects and 5500 others are working on other development projects.

While talking about the May 9 incident, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the May 9 perpetrators attempted to create hatred amongst the people and the armed forces and they will have to be punished under the law and constitution of Pakistan.

“The issue of May 9 riots is not limited to the Pakistan Army but [in fact] concerns the whole nation,” the military’s spokesperson said.

On the issue of Afghan refugees living inside Pakistan, the military’s spokesperson said: “Millions of Afghans are still living in Pakistan, while the country is fighting against terrorism. Pakistan has helped Afghan refugees, which the world has recognized.”

Highlighting that millions of Afghan citizens continue to reside in Pakistan, the general revealed that more than 563,000 Afghans have been repatriated. The DG ISPR said the law and order situation was deteriorating because of the Afghan citizens.

“Militants are spoiling law and order situation in Balochistan, but the army is [acting as] a wall against the miscreants,” he noted.