Pakistan assures strengthening security for Chinese projects, says China

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson said on Thursday that the Pakistani government has pledged to strengthen security for Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Wang Wenbin, responding to a question at a regular news briefing, said Pakistan has vowed to not to allow any force to undermine the great China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation following the Karachi suicide attack.

“We believe that the Pakistani side will earnestly take robust measures to ensure that China-Pakistan cooperation moves ahead in a safe and smooth manner,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that Beijing and Islamabad had the capability of cutting off the claws of terrorists who were involved in the Karachi suicide attack.

Four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed Tuesday while four others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber targeted their van on the premises of the University of Karachi.

‘Cutting off terrorists claws’

“China and Pakistan have the resolve and capability to cut off the claws of the terrorists and make them pay the price,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson said at a regular news briefing.

The treatment of the injured and the follow-up work of the victims are in orderly progress, the spokesperson said, noting that Pakistan is going all out to investigate and hunt down the perpetrators.

The spokesperson said the iron-clad friendship enjoys popular support in both countries, while Beijing has always supported Pakistan’s national development.

“We will continue to support Pakistan’s economic and social development and improvement of people’s livelihood,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the Chinese and Pakistani people would thwart any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation.

“We would also like to remind Chinese citizens, institutions, projects and personnel in Pakistan to take extra security precautions and pay close attention to security risks,” he added.

China strongly condemns attack

A day back, China expressed its strong condemnation of the Karachi suicide attack and extended deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to the families of the injured and bereaved.

“The Chinese side expresses strong condemnation and indignation over this major terrorist attack and extends deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to the injured and bereaved families,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

Following the Tuesday attack, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to convey condolences, saying that the government will conduct an in-depth probe into the incident, give exemplary punishment to the perpetrators, and strengthen the security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan in an all-round way.

He said his government would never allow any force to undermine the Pakistan-China friendship. “The blood of the Chinese people should not be shed in vain, and those behind this incident will surely pay the price.”

Meanwhile, local authorities in Sindh and Karachi have launched a full-scale investigation to hunt down the perpetrators.

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