Two children killed, Chinese national injured in Gwadar suicide attack
Army soldiers prevent major catastrophe, Chinese national injured but in stable condition, says interior ministry
Mohammad Zafar
August 20, 2021
At least two children were killed and three other people sustained injuries during a suicide attack in Balochistan's Gwadar on Friday, according to an official statement.
"Today in the evening, in a cowardly attack, a convoy of Chinese nationals comprising four Chinese vehicles with integral security details of Pakistan Army and police contingent was targeted on East Bay Expressway in Gwadar," the statement issued by the interior ministry said.
It said that the targeting took place along the coastal road near a Fishermen colony. "A young boy ran out of the colony once the convoy reached there to target Chinese vehicles. Fortunately, soldiers of Pakistan Army in plain clothes employed as hanging around security rushed to intercept the boy; who immediately, exploded himself about 15-20 metres away from the convoy," the official communiqué read.
Resultantly, the statement added, a Chinese national got injured who is stable and has been evacuated to the nearest Gwadar hospital. "Unfortunately, two innocent children playing nearby the incident site lost their precious lives while another two children received critical injuries in the heinous act. They have been evacuated to the hospital," the ministry said.
The statement said that both Pakistan and China recognise the threats posed to their cooperation and collaboration towards the growth and development of their communities under the evolving regional environment. "Cognisant of hostile designs, the government of Pakistan is already undertaking a comprehensive review of security of Chinese brothers and is committed to ensuring their safe stay in Pakistan in this journey of progress. We reaffirm our Chinese brothers our wholehearted endeavours to deal with these threats comprehensively."
The interior minister further said in the communiqué that "In this hour of distress, while we are saddened by injury to our Chinese brother and loss of innocent Pakistani children, both countries stand together firmly in defeating the inimical acts aiming to undermine our cooperation and friendship."
The deceased have been identified as 11-year-old Salman s/o Khuda Bakhsh and 10-year-old Salman s/o Haider Nagori.
"Strongly condemn suicide attack on Chinese nationals' vehicle in Gwadar," Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani wrote on his official Twitter handle.
He said that the two children were playing nearby who died in the explosion, adding that one Chinese national “sustained minor injuries”.
Terrorists have in recent times stepped up their attacks at public places and on security personnel.
On August 12, at least five suspected armed militants belonging to a banned militant organisation were killed in a gun battle with Balochistan chapter’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and security forces in the New Marri Camp area of Hazarganji located in the provincial capital Quetta.
According to CTD officials, the search operation in the New Marri Camp of Hazarganji was launched on reports that terrorists were planning to conduct terrorist attacks at important places of the provincial capital city on the eve of Independence Day.
On August 8, two police personnel were martyred while many others sustained injures when a powerful blast targeted their vehicle near a luxury hotel in Quetta.
According to Shahwani, a police van was targeted during the attack in which at least 21 people, including 12 cops, were also injured.
He said that the explosive material was planted in a motorcycle.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned outfit, has claimed responsibility for the blast.
