Pakistan Blast: China Condemns Suicide Attack That Left 3 Chinese Nationals Dead

At least four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed in a suicide attack on Tuesday in Pakistan.

The site of explosion in Karachi.

(Photo: PTI)

China on Wednesday, 27 April, condemned and demanded a thorough investigation into the suicide attack at Pakistan's Karachi University that left three Chinese nationals dead and one other injured.

At least four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed and several injured in a car explosion inside the premises of the University of Karachi, Geo News reported on Tuesday, 26 April.

"China will continue to urge Pakistan to deal with the aftermath and the treatment of the injured and resolutely fight against terrorist organisations involved in the case," deputy director of the Chinese foreign ministry Zhao Lijian tweeted on Wednesday.

Lijian also said that China expressed its strong condemnation and great indignation at this major terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Jianghao spoke to the Pakistani Ambassador to China and expressed grave concern, a statement said. He also demanded that Pakistan carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.

Won't Rest Till Culprits Hunted Down: PM Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday visited the Chinese embassy in Islamabad to meet officials, reported BBC. He also presented them with a handwritten letter and reiterated the nation's commitment "to eliminate all militants and terrorists from Pakistani soil".

"We won't rest until the culprits are hunted down and given exemplary punishment," he wrote, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar condemned the incident, calling it "reprehensible" and a "direct attack" on Pakistan and China relations.

The Blast

The blast took place at 1.52 pm in a van near the Confucius Institute – a Chinese language teaching centre – at the university. Rescue and security agencies reached the location and cordoned off the areas, initiating rescue operations.

Those killed in Tuesday's blast were identified as Confucius Institute Director Huang Guiping, Ding Mupeng, Chen Sa, and a Pakistani driver, Khalid, news agency PTI reported university spokesperson as saying.

As per the official, two others, named Wang Yuqing and Hamid, were among the injured in the incident.

While the police are yet to determine the cause of the attack, separatist Baloch Liberation Army has indicated that the van was attacked by a female suicide bomber, BBC reported. The separatist group is resistant to the Chinese investment in Pakistan.

(With inputs from BBC.)