The Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan reaffirmed on Thursday that the recent suicide attack in Besham was carried out by enemies of the Pakistan-China friendship. FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated during a weekly press briefing that Pakistan remained in close contact with China following the “heinous attack.”
Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to bringing terrorists and their facilitators to justice, emphasizing that such attacks only strengthened Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms.
Describing Pakistan and China as “close friends and iron brothers,” Baloch expressed determination to jointly act against such acts of terrorism and defeat the forces behind them. She also emphasized Islamabad’s commitment to working with Beijing to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.
The attack in Besham targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers traveling from Islamabad to Dasu in the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The suicide bomber’s vehicle collided with the engineers’ vehicle, resulting in the deaths of six people, including five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver.
Malakand Deputy Inspector General Muhammad Ali Gandapur confirmed that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in response to the attack, instructed for a thorough joint investigation, praising the swift response of law enforcement and locals in the aftermath of the incident.
During the emergency meeting chaired by the prime minister, it was emphasized that terrorism posed a transnational threat aimed at impeding Pakistan’s progress and development. The attack was seen as an attempt to create mistrust between Pakistan and China, two countries with a strong and longstanding friendship.
