Enemy forces have once again launched operations to sabotage the atmosphere of peace and stability in Pakistan. On Friday, two boys were killed and four others, including a Chinese national, injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up targeting a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals in Gwadar.
Balochistan Liberation Army, a terrorist organisation, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident comes on the heels of the Dasu tragedy in which at least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed in a terrorist attack. Moreover the Chinese consulate in Karachi had come under an armed attack — also carried out by Baloch separatists — in 2018.
It is obvious that these attacks are designed to harm the Pakistan-China relationship and to discourage foreigners from working on development projects in the country. Protection for Chinese nationals must be beefed up considering that hostile actors appear determined to target them. The security apparatus must redouble its efforts to thwart such incidents.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a target of some terror forces, which has something to do with the incitement of some international forces. In this region, Afghan and Indian intelligence forces keen to infiltrate into Pakistan have held a hostile attitude toward CPEC. Blocking the development of the corridor has become their main target to contain China’s rise.
The attack, however, did not cause many casualties, but the enemy did achieve its goal to some extent, because the terrorists aim is to create an atmosphere of fear and panic. With the region on the brink of chaos as Taliban took over Afghanistan, all manner of militants will try and increase attacks inside Pakistan as is already evident.
Therefore, the government and the security agencies need to be very vigilant at this time because the enemy forces can go to any extent to spoil the relations of friendly countries and destabilize Pakistan. The economic and strategic relationship between Pakistan and China is deep, and inimical forces should not be allowed to damage this bond.
