Chinese diplomat urges swift action over Bisham tragedy

Embassy deputy chief of mission says terrorist attacks will only deepen bilateral cooperation

ISLAMABAD:

Acknowledging the Pakistan’s efforts for safeguarding Chinese workers in Pakistan, a Chinese diplomat in Islamabad urged the government on Sunday to take swift action against the perpetrators of the terrorist attack on a Chinese convoy in the Bisham, Khyber-Pakhtunkwa (K-P) last week.

Shi Yuanqiang, the minister and deputy chief of mission (DCM) at the Chinese embassy, emphasised that incidents, such as the Bisham tragedy, would only strengthen China and Pakistan’s collaboration. He said that China and Pakistan were iron-brothers and their bond would grow stronger with each passing day.

Shi met with former interior minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shehryar Afridi, who called on him at the Chinese embassy to offer condolences on the death of Chinese engineers in Bisham suicide attack. Yang Nuo, the minister counsellor at the embassy, was also present on the occasion.

Shi expressed gratitude to the PTI leaders for visiting the embassy and offering condolences with the victim families and the people of China and Pakistan. He said that China highly valued the Pakistani government’s efforts for providing support and protection to the Chinese workers and companies.

Read also: PM orders ‘joint investigation’ into Bisham atrocity

The Chinese side urged the Pakistani side to conduct speedy and thorough investigations into the attack and severely punish the perpetrators and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of the Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan.

He said that China and Pakistan were iron-friends and the terrorist attacks would only strengthen the resolve of the both countries to deepen their friendly cooperation and promote balanced and sustainable development of Pakistan.

On the occasion, Afridi said that neither terrorism nor conspiracies could dent the trust and brotherhood between China and Pakistan. He added that terrorists misled the public, and managed to attack Pakistani security forces and Chinese installations.

Afridi urged China and Pakistani governments to focus development of infrastructure in the Pak-Afghan border areas and provide education and employment opportunities to the youth. “Education and employment can help fight the menace of terrorism in far-flung and under-developed tribal areas.”