July 22, 2021
2 mins read

Pakistan bus blast: China puts hold on CPEC projects

Thirteen people have lost lives in a bus attack during the construction of the China-led Dasu hydropower project in the Kohistan district…reports Asian Lite News

After nine Chinese engineers lost their lives in the bus attack, Beijing has postponed its high-level joint committee for the Belt and Road Initiative halting a billion-dollar hydropower project in Pakistan.

Thirteen people including nine Chinese engineers were killed during the construction of the China-led Dasu hydropower project in the Kohistan district. Pakistan’s foreign office called it an accident caused by a mechanical failure. This triggered a strong response from Beijing, demanding that Islamabad probe the blast, Nikkei Asia reported.

“Obviously, these are efforts to block the CPEC mega project, previously a number of attacks targeted only the outlying areas of the CPEC in Balochistan, but this time it happened close to China,” Fakhar Kakakhel, a senior analyst covering terrorism informed.

Pakistani officials, later on, discovered traces of explosives at the site. A team of fifteen Chinese investigators had also reached Pakistan to look into the matter.

: Photo taken with a mobile phone shows security personnel working near the blast site in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on July 14, 2021. A blast happened in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, leaving 12 people including nine Chinese dead, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed. (Str/Xinhua)

In the initial reaction, Beijing postponed the 10th Joint Coordination Committee meeting, which is the ruling body for the USD 50 Billion CPEC project. Apart from that, Beijing also suspended work on the Dasu Hydropower Project, Nikkei Asia reported.

Experts believe that the attack has been a huge blow to China’s interests in Pakistan. The disturbing situation in Afghanistan will lead to more trouble in Pakistan where [CPEC] will be the main target, Nikkei Asia reported citing Kakakhel.

Meanwhile, Beijing has also asked Islamabad to identify security risks being faced by Chinese personnel in the country.

China’s State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi discussed with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed about the recent terror attack in which nine Chinese nationals died in Pakistan.

After persistent attacks on Chinese nationals, now Pakistan has to convince Beijing that it can protect Chinese infrastructure and citizens from the terrorist groups when it has failed to protect its own. (ANI)

ALSO READ: 25 dead in China floods, Xi calls situation ‘very severe’

ALSO READ: ‘We will use nukes’: China threatens Japan over Taiwan intervention

Previous Story

NAYA J&K:  Accountability Fuels Staff Efficiency

Next Story

UAE Eases Entry Restrictions For Expo Participants

Latest from -Top News

Fuel switch mystery in Air India horror crash

Cockpit voice recordings, fuel switch anomalies and a possible overlooked advisory emerge in early findings The preliminary investigation into the crash of Air India flight AI171, which went down shortly after take-off

‘Kill and Dump’ Haunts Balochistan Again

The latest killings have reignited accusations of extrajudicial executions and the use of counterterrorism laws to cover up custodial deaths in Balochistan….reports Asian Lite News Concerns have deepened across Balochistan following the

‘ASEAN Expands, But Keeps Its Soul’

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan urged ASEAN to uphold its unity and strategic resolve amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and mounting external pressures…reports Asian Lite News Consensus and inclusivity will remain the cornerstones

Bangladesh bends to beat Trump’s blow

Dhaka seeks compromise as Trump’s 35% tariff looms large over key exports; Washington urges worker protections, factory relocation to US…reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh has opened the second round of critical trade
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Police crackdown on dissidents ahead of CCP party Congress

A Liaoning petitioner surnamed Zhang said that, once they get

US, China lock horns over capturing semiconductor chip market

Against this, the US in October last year declared rules