Safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions a key priority for Pakistan: FO

Islamabad: Pakistan has said safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions remains a key priority for Pakistan.

“With regards to the unfortunate incident on the 13th of August in Gwadar, the attack in Gwadar was designed to target Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project in Gwadar. As a result of timely action by Pakistani security forces, the attack was foiled and the terrorists involved were killed. Thankfully, no Chinese national was harmed,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

Speaking at a news briefing, she informed that Pakistan was in contact with the the Chinese government.

“Ensuring the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions remains a key priority for Pakistan. Planners and perpetrators of this abhorrent act will be brought to justice. They will never succeed in their evil design to damage our bilateral ties with China. Nor can such abhorrent acts dampen the resolve of our two countries to further advance the all-encompassing bilateral cooperation, including under the ambit of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” she contended.

To a question about the Pakistani flag waved for the first time on an important building in Russia, Baloch remarked: “We welcome the sentiments of friendship that our Russian friends have expressed on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day. Similar sentiments were expressed by friends of Pakistan from across the world. The people of Pakistan appreciate such gestures on the occasion of our Independence Day celebrations.”