Karachi/Islamabad (PTI) : A suicide bomber detonated his explosives on Friday close to a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals in Pakistan's restive southwestern Balochistan province, killing at least two children and wounding three persons, including a Chinese, in the second such attack in over a month.
The attack took place in the Baloch Ward area in Gwadar, the port city of strategic importance due to the presence of Chinese workers and investment, a senior government official and police said.
Two children who were playing nearby died while one Chinese sustained minor injuries, Balochistan government spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said, adding that three persons, including the driver, were injured.
"The suicide bomber came close to the vehicle and blew himself up, Shahwani said. The injured have been shifted to GDA Hospital in Gwadar.
He said the police and officials of Counter-Terrorism Deparment have scene launched an investigation.
Shahwani said in a statement that he "strongly condemns the suicide attack on Chinese nationals' vehicle in Gwadar .
Earlier, local police confirmed that a loud explosion was heard in the area, injuring people who were shifted to a local hospital.
No one has taken responsibility for the attack but in the past, Baloch nationalists and the Taliban militants often carried out such attacks against the security forces.
Gwadar is the culmination point of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
A large number of Chinese experts and workers are employed in Gwadar and the surrounding areas to complete various projects under the CPEC.
China is involved in several projects aimed at development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea which is itself part of China's Belt and Road infrastructure project.
In the last few months there has been an increase in terror attacks targeting Chinese nationals in Balochistan and Karachi who are working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects and for private enterprises.
At least 13 people, including nine Chinese, were killed in a terrorist attack in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last month.
The bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the site of the under-construction Dasu Dam exploded on July 14. The bus fell into a deep ravine after the explosion in the Upper Kohistan district.
Pakistan had initially said the accident was caused due to technical problems and later an explosion occurred due to gas leakage. Later, it retracted from its earlier stand and acknowledged it was a terrorist attack.
Chinese nationals also came under attack in Karachi last month when they were fired upon by gunmen from a moving vehicle.
For Pakistan, ties with China are crucial due to its increasing economic dependence on Beijing.
This year, the two nations are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and more than 100 celebratory events have been planned of which over 60 events have already been held so far.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Four arrested, minor detained for killing teenager in UP's Gorakhpur
Gorakhpur (UP)(PTI) Police on Tuesday arrested four persons and detained a boy in connection with the killing of a teenager at a school here, officials said.
The arrested accused have been identified as Dayanand alias Chhotu, Hrithik Roshan alias Roshan, Uday alias Kishan Kumar and Deepak, all residents of Pipraich police station area here and aged 19-20, the police officials said.
The detained minor will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, they said.
Police recovered a country-made pistol and a motorcycle allegedly used by the accused in the commission of the crime, they added.
Superintendent of Police (North) Gyanendra Nath Prasad said the arrests were made following sustained investigation and technical surveillance, and further legal proceedings were underway.
According to police, Sudhir Bharti (17), a class 11 student, was shot dead by the accused on December 26 over old enmity and a dispute triggered by social media posts in the playground of a school in the Pipraich area here.
Based on the complaint filed by Bharti's family, a case was registered under sections 103(1) (punishment for murder) and 61(2) (party to a criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Arms Act.
According to eyewitnesses, Bharti was in the playground when he had an argument with a person from the same neighbourhood.
The argument escalated and the accused shot him with a country-made pistol, killing him on the spot, they said.
