BLA attack kills Chinese engineers in southwest Pakistan
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The separatist group killed several Chinese engineers heading to the Gwadar Port.
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Pakistani soldiers look on near a train at the site of two explosions in the town of Much, 55 kilometres east of Balochistan's provincial capital Quetta, on October 7, 2016. (AFP)
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatists attacked a convoy carrying Chinese engineers to the Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan on Sunday, the group announced.
"BLA Majeed Brigade today targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Gwadar. The attack is still ongoing," the group stated.
Several militant groups in Balochistan have claimed attacks on Chinese-financed projects through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The Pakistani government has deployed thousands of security personnel in the area to counter threats to the large infrastructural projects.
"I strongly condemn the heinous terror attack on Chinese workers convoy in Gwadar," Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, a senator and former provincial interior minister posted on X.
"Thankfully, no loss of life happened, but there are reports that the ambush has been repulsed and the attackers have been killed."
State Radio Pakistan cited a military source saying that the situation was under control.
"One terrorist was killed and three others injured in an exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in Gwadar," it said.
The Baloch people claim to be directly affected by the CPEC projects as they believe the mega-projects infringe on their interests and that they are not getting a fair share of the province's profits.
The CPEC is essential to the massive Belt and Road Initiative and seeks to link China's western Xinjiang province to the Gwadar port in the southwest and has seen tens of billions of dollars spent for the completion of the massive transport infrastructure.
Furthermore, late in July, China has given Pakistan a two-year extension on a $2.4 billion loan, providing the debt-ridden country some breathing room in its budget crisis.
Before a $3 billion IMF bailout was approved earlier this month, under the condition of securing supplemental backing from friendly countries, Pakistan was on the verge of default due to spiraling inflation, declining dollar reserves, and heavy foreign debt.
China's EXIM Bank offered Pakistan an extension on twin debts, worth $2.4 billion, which were due in the fiscal years 2023/24 and 2024/25 explained Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Read more: China grants Pakistan a 2-year rollover on twin debts of $1.2 billion
