Two Chinese nationals were injured in a shooting incident in Karachi on Tuesday (5 November), marking a concerning rise in targeted attacks on Chinese citizens in Pakistan. Police and hospital sources confirmed the event, noting that one of the victims is in serious condition and currently receiving treatment at Liaquat National Hospital. This incident has raised fresh alarms about the safety of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, especially those involved in major development projects.
This latest attack follows a troubling pattern of violence. In October, a suicide bombing near Karachi airport killed two Chinese citizens and wounded ten others, an attack claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army. Earlier, in March, five Chinese engineers were killed in a separate suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These incidents underscore the growing risk Chinese workers and businesspeople face, particularly since the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative a decade ago.
In total, 21 Chinese nationals have lost their lives since CPEC’s inception, revealing the high stakes and risks associated with this strategic project. CPEC is a significant part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, involving extensive infrastructure, energy, and trade developments, and is seen as essential to both countries’ economic interests. However, ongoing violence has cast a shadow over the project, raising questions about security and sustainability.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, condemned the attacks and called on Pakistan to take decisive action against anti-China terrorist groups. At a recent seminar, he stressed that CPEC’s objectives would be difficult to achieve without a secure environment. The ambassador’s comments underscore China’s expectation that Pakistan enhances protections for Chinese citizens and projects, highlighting security as a primary challenge for CPEC’s long-term success.
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