ISLAMABAD:
A security guard shot and injured two Chinese nationals at a textile factory in Karachi on Tuesday, according to police, who stated that the incident was not linked to militancy.
Zia ul Haq Langar, the home minister of Sindh province, confirmed that the shooting occurred in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) area and that an investigation is underway.
Police reported that the guard opened fire following a heated argument and scuffle with the Chinese workers, resulting in their injuries. They were transported to Liaquat National Hospital, where one is in critical condition.
This incident may further strain Pakistan’s already delicate relationship with China, amidst increasing security threats to Chinese personnel involved in infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Last week, the Chinese ambassador in Islamabad condemned the ongoing attacks on his citizens as “unacceptable,” stating they hinder investments.
In an unusual response, Pakistan’s foreign office characterized the ambassador’s remarks as “perplexing” and inconsistent with established diplomatic norms.
Attacks against the government, military, and Chinese interests have been prevalent in southern and southwestern regions due to a longstanding insurgency by separatists in resource-rich Balochistan.
In October, a bombing near Karachi’s international airport resulted in the deaths of two Chinese engineers, claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army. Additionally, five Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide bombing in the northwest in March. Since the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project a decade ago, 21 Chinese nationals have lost their lives in various attacks in Pakistan.
