Bus explosion in Pakistan killed 13 people, including Chinese; Beijing accused Reuters of bombing

Jibran Ahmad and Yew Lun Tian

Peshawar, Pakistan/Beijing (Reuters)-On Wednesday, a bus exploded in northern Pakistan, killing 13 people, including 9 Chinese nationals. Beijing described this as a bomb attack, but Islamabad described it as a vehicle malfunction.

Local government and police sources told Reuters that two Pakistani soldiers were also killed after the explosion sent the bus across the ravine.

As part of Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have worked on hydropower projects for several years in the Khyber Putuhwa province in the western part of the explosion site.

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed that nine nationals of the country had died. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the explosion a bomb attack, but did not provide more details, expressed condolences, and urged a thorough investigation and protection of its personnel and projects.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a mechanical failure caused a gas leak and caused an explosion.

However, Moazzam Jah Ansari, the highest police officer in the province and the inspector general, told Reuters earlier that he was suspected of fouling. “It looks like sabotage,” he said.

A senior administrative official in the Hazara region, who asked not to be named, said that the bus was carrying more than 30 Chinese engineers to the Dasu Dam in Upper Koistan.

Billions of investment

The Dasu Hydropower Project is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project invested 65 billion US dollars to connect western China with the port of Gwadar in southern Pakistan.

An editorial in the Global Times, a Chinese tabloid under the official People’s Daily of the Communist Party of China, said: “This is obviously a well-planned and information-supported terrorist act. This is China’s worst attack on Chinese citizens.” In recent years.

Chinese people working in Pakistan have been attacked before, especially in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Separatist militants launched a rebellion against the authorities in the state where China is developing mines and ports.

The separatists also attacked the Chinese consulate in the southern city of Karachi. In addition, Islamic radicals have also targeted Chinese citizens before.

Authorities said rescuers used air ambulances to take the injured (including Chinese engineers) to a hospital in Dasu about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the explosion site.

“The police and the bomb disposal team are at the scene,” added Arif Khan Yusufzai, a district official outside the hospital, adding that he is awaiting investigation to determine the details.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated that it maintains close contact with the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad and added in a statement: “Pakistan attaches great importance to the safety and security of Chinese citizens, projects and institutions.”