Editorial

Time to be more alert

Such abductions and killings are rare and unlikely to put a strain on Pak China friendship

Editorial June 10, 2017

It is with considerable anguish and pain that both Pakistan and China began verifying information on Monday about the likely deaths of two Chinese teachers who were kidnapped by Islamic State militants in Balochistan’s capital last month. Until then the fate of the two language teachers was shrouded in mystery. And even after culling together all the information it could on the Quetta kidnapping and exhausting all possible leads through a massive search operation, Pakistani security forces could not track down the whereabouts of the Chinese captives. This is not for a lack of trying but owing to the deviousness of the local and geopolitical forces that are arrayed against Pakistan and China.

The significance of the timing of the kidnapping should not be lost. The Chinese nationals were abducted immediately after the One Belt, One Road summit in Beijing. Within days of the release of a report claiming that Beijing was eying the prospect of military bases in Pakistan, the IS issued a claim about the purported deaths of the Chinese nationals.

Such abductions and killings are rare and unlikely to put a strain on the friendship enjoyed by Pakistan and China, which is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure projects. It should and will, however, strengthen the resolve of the two nations against all acts of terrorism. Already the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, has spoken of her country’s strong denunciation of all forms of terrorism and assured Pakistan of allout support in the goal of fighting terrorism and maintaining domestic security and stability. Officials in Beijing have recognised the current efforts undertaken by Islamabad to rescue the kidnapped teachers as well as protect Chinese citizens.

As the stakes from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are high, Pakistan should do its utmost to ensure that no inimical or disruptive force is allowed to interfere with these development projects or harm our Chinese guests who are working on a number of infrastructure schemes.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2017.

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