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Pakistan Military: Afghan Citizen Planned Suicide Bombing That Killed 5 Chinese Engineers
A very complex situation was just made worse.
Lahore, Pakistan (Photo by Syed Bilal Javaid)
Pakistan’s military revealed on Tuesday that a suicide bombing in March, which claimed the lives of five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver, was orchestrated in neighboring Afghanistan, with the bomber identified as an Afghan citizen. At a news conference, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sharif disclosed that four individuals linked to the March 26 attack in Bisham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, had been apprehended. Sharif emphasized that the attack, targeting Chinese engineers working on the Dasu Dam, aimed to disrupt the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China, with thousands of Chinese nationals involved in projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
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Sharif further attributed a surge in attacks within Pakistan since January, resulting in the deaths of 62 security personnel, to Pakistani Taliban factions operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan. He criticized the Afghan Taliban government for failing to fulfill promises made regarding the prevention of attacks launched from Afghan soil against any nation. The Afghan Taliban regime has not yet responded to these allegations.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, although distinct from the Afghan Taliban, maintains a close alliance with the group. The Afghan Taliban ascended to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces after two decades of conflict in Afghanistan. Sharif asserted that Pakistan possesses substantial evidence implicating the TTP in violent activities across the country.
In addressing immigration concerns, Sharif declared that Pakistan would not tolerate the presence of foreigners lacking valid documentation, reporting that over half a million Afghan nationals residing illegally had returned to Afghanistan since Islamabad initiated a crackdown on illegal migrants last year. He highlighted progress in border security measures, noting that 98% of the fence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and 91% of the fence along the Iran-Pakistan border had been completed to combat illegal movements, smuggling, and cross-border militant activities.
Despite speculation in the media, the army spokesman dismissed any possibility of negotiations or deals with former Prime Minister Imran Khan or his political party, currently incarcerated on various charges including corruption and revealing official secrets. Khan’s imprisonment has stirred political discussions, yet the military remains firm on its stance regarding any potential dialogue with the former premier or his associates.
