Pakistan has firmly rejected a media report suggesting that China had urged Islamabad to allow its security personnel to protect Chinese nationals in Pakistan following the recent bombing at Karachi airport.
The report, published by Reuters, claimed that China requested its own security staff for its citizens after a car bombing near Karachi airport in which two Chinese citizens were killed. The bombing, attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade, was described as a “major security breach.”
At a press briefing on Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch dismissed the Reuters report as “speculation” driven by ulterior motives. She emphasized that Pakistan and China have a strong, cooperative relationship based on mutual respect and sovereignty, and both nations are committed to safeguarding their bilateral ties. Baloch called on the media to critically assess the motives behind such reports, stressing that the two countries have the capability to protect their interests.
The Reuters article also claimed that a series of attacks on Chinese nationals had pushed Pakistan to initiate talks on a joint security management system. However, Baloch rejected this assertion, reaffirming the strength of ongoing bilateral cooperation.
In a related matter, Baloch also addressed the growing threat of terrorism in Pakistan, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. She urged Afghan authorities to act against groups operating from Afghan soil that are involved in cross-border terrorism. “The patience of the Pakistani people should not be tested,” Baloch warned, reiterating Pakistan’s demand for action from Afghanistan.
Statistics from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) showed a sharp rise in terrorist violence in Pakistan during the third quarter of 2024, with a 90% increase in fatalities compared to previous months. The majority of these attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, which have been the hardest-hit regions in recent years.
