China Demands Action After Deadly Shooting of Nationals in Karachi Raises Security Concerns
November 5, 2024The security guard involved in the shooting has been arrested, and an investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the attack.
This shooting incident is part of a troubling trend, as the number of Chinese workers killed in Pakistan has risen to 21 since the initiation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor nearly a decade ago.
The shooting incident, which occurred in Karachi's industrial area, has raised significant concerns, prompting Beijing to call for enhanced security measures for its citizens abroad.
Authorities have confirmed that the shooting is not linked to militant violence, clarifying that it stemmed from a heated argument between the victims and a security guard.
The Pakistani Foreign Office has expressed sympathy for the injured and assured that justice will be served against those responsible for the shooting.
The incident has prompted a crackdown on unregistered and illegal security firms in the region, as officials seek to improve safety for foreign nationals.
One of the injured victims is reported to be in serious condition at Liaquat National Hospital, highlighting the severity of the incident.
Sindh Interior Minister Zia Hassan Lanjhar has requested a detailed report from the police and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The incident has added to the growing tensions between Pakistan and China, particularly as security threats to Chinese workers have become a pressing concern amid ongoing infrastructure projects under China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Over the past three years, more than twenty Chinese nationals have been killed in Pakistan due to attacks primarily attributed to the Baloch Liberation Army, which has been involved in a long-standing insurgency.
Following a recent incident in which two Chinese citizens were killed in a suicide bombing near Karachi airport in October 2024, China has consistently requested improved security for its nationals in Pakistan.
Summary based on 22 sources
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Sources
Yahoo News • Nov 5, 2024
Pakistan shooting wounds two Chinese nationalsABC News • Nov 5, 2024
Pakistani guard shoots, wound 2 Chinese working in a textile mill in KarachiAP News • Nov 5, 2024
Pakistani guard shoots, wound 2 Chinese working in a textile mill in KarachiSouth China Morning Post • Nov 5, 2024
2 Chinese nationals shot in Pakistan, amid calls for heightened security