On Thursday, China sentenced the Baloch militants attack on Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is part of the multi-billion dollar CPEC. ‘Beijing firmly backs Islamabad’s efforts to fight terrorism and defend national security’, said China.
‘Two soldiers of the Pakistani Army were killed and eight Baloch militants were sent to hell when security personnel foiled an attempt by heavily armed Baloch insurgents to storm the Gwadar Port Authority complex’, according to the Pakistan military.
‘We noted the reports and we strongly condemned the terrorist attack and mourn for the Pakistani personnel killed in the attack’, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a media briefing here.
‘China is against all forms of terrorism and firmly supports national development and social stability in Pakistan’, said Lin Jian.
The port complex hosts many government and paramilitary offices and the located Gwadar Port remains one of the focal points of the billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project.
Baloch insurgent groups have carried out several attacks targeting the USD 60 billion CPEC projects.
The BLA is opposed to China’s investments in Balochistan and accuses Beijing and Islamabad of exploitation of the resource-rich province, a charge rejected by the authorities.
Thousands of Chinese personnel are working in Pakistan on many projects being carried out under the aegis of the CPEC.
‘Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 – marking a record six-year high’, according to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies.
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