Following a deadly bomb blast in Karachi that claimed the lives of two Chinese nationals and injured one, China has vowed to ramp up intelligence sharing with Pakistan to avert similar incidents in the future.
China’s main anti-espionage agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), has promised to increase early warning and anti-terrorism intelligence cooperation, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, citing an editorial written by the ministry. China termed the blast as a “terrorist attack” on its nationals.
The ministry emphasized that fighting terrorism was a “shared responsibility of the international community and a pressing priority.”
The editorial highlighted that the MSS opposed terrorism in all forms and was committed to supporting Pakistan in its fight against terrorism even as it worked to foil attempts to damage ties between the two nations.
The MSS vowed that China would “adopt stricter measures and means to legally combat violent and terrorist activities, prevent foreign terrorist activities from extending into the domestic territory, and guard against the infiltration of extremist violent ideologies into the country.”
“In regions concentrated with overseas interests, efforts will be made to enhance early warning systems for terrorist attack risks, strengthen the emergency response to sudden incidents, and effectively protect the safety of overseas citizens, organizations, and projects.”
It stated that China will take a “multifaceted” position to counterterrorism and strengthen global collaboration against terrorism. It also noted that the country would enhance systems to exchange anti-terrorism intelligence and financial regulation, collaborate with law enforcement, and provide legal support.
In the aftermath of the attack, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that terrorism was the common enemy of humanity and that attempts made by terrorist groups to erode cooperation, confidence, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would fail.
The latest editorial comes days after the deadly attack that has been attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group advocating for Baloch independence.
The attack was carried out using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. China has since issued an advisory to its citizens advising them not to travel to the western provinces of Pakistan.
China views Pakistan as a strategic ally and a vital partner in its ambitious Belt and Road development initiative. However, the projects covered by the program have encountered escalating security difficulties, particularly in light of Pakistan’s recent struggles with an upsurge in violence by terrorist and militant groups who are opposed to expanding Chinese presence in their homeland. The latest attack targeted a convoy carrying Chinese staff of an electric power company.
The Karachi blast is the latest in a string of attacks that have been launched against Pakistani and Chinese nationals in recent times. China is aware of the discontent brewing in certain provinces of Pakistan, where it has launched infrastructure projects and invested $62 billion to develop the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
This was evident in the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which said: “China also demanded efforts to effectively close the security loopholes, and more targeted measures to provide full protection for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.”
Chinese Nationals & Projects Under Threat
In 2024, multiple violent attacks took place against Chinese personnel and installations. March 2024, for instance, was a bloody month when Chinese nationals and interests in Pakistan were the target of at least three attacks.
First, Pakistan’s Gwadar port—built in Balochistan with Chinese assistance — came under attack by armed militants. The Pakistani forces were able to foil the attempt, and eight armed militants were killed when they tried to enter the Gwadar Port Authority complex. Two Pakistani soldiers reportedly died while fighting the militants.
The Gwadar facility is the centerpiece of a multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan’s most ambitious infrastructure and investment project in recent memory.
Later, the PNS Siddique Naval Air Base, one of the largest naval air bases in the nation and located in Balochistan, was attacked by five Balochistan Liberation Army militants.
The Pakistani security forces announced that the attack was foiled, and all the militants were killed. The BLA said they had managed to kill two dozen Pakistani soldiers, and the Chinese investment in Balochistan was the impetus of the attack.
Following that, five Chinese nationals working on a hydroelectric power project near Besham city, along with their driver, were killed on March 26 when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into their convoy.
Multiple commentators and Pakistan watchers have repeatedly pointed out that the attacks stem from the disillusionment of those who have not benefited from the project.
Beijing has imposed a condition in the CPEC agreement that Chinese companies and their workers can only execute specific projects that Chinese companies deem strategic. Furthermore, the projects have generated significant resentment towards the Chinese, as they have failed to enhance employment or prosperity for local residents.
For decades, Baloch activists have accused the government of killing thousands of people while torturing and forcing countless others into forced disappearances.
The Pakistani government launched a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign known as the ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ earlier this year. The operation has been projected as the country’s resolve to eradicate extremism.
Previous reports suggested that the operation would include closing legal loopholes that obstruct the effective prosecution of terrorism-related crimes, as well as supporting the military operations of Pakistan with the support of all law enforcement agencies.
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