A group of Baloch movement attacked a Chinese convoy in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan on Monday, August 13, 2023. The attack took place near the Eastbay Expressway, a major road linking Gwadar to Karachi at around 10:00 AM local time, when the convoy was traveling on the Makran Coastal Highway.
The convoy was carrying Chinese engineers and technicians working on a development project in Gwadar. The Baloch group opened fire on the convoy with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, resulted in the deaths of three Chinese nationals and one Pakistani driver. Two other Chinese nationals were injured in the attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLA is a separatist group that is fighting for an independent Balochistan from Pakistan. The group has been carrying out attacks on Chinese targets in Balochistan for several years.
The attack is the latest in a series of attacks on Chinese targets in Pakistan. In July 2023, a suicide bomber killed four Chinese teachers in Karachi. In June 2023, a group of baloch movement attacked a Chinese consulate in Karachi, killing two people.
The attack on the Chinese convoy is a major security breach in Gwadar. Gwadar is a strategically important port city that is home to a number of Chinese projects. The attack is likely to raise concerns about the security of Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan. China is a major investor in Pakistan, and the attacks have damaged relations between the two countries.
The Pakistani government has condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. The government has also increased security in Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan. However, the attacks have shown that the Baloch movement group are still a potent force and that they are willing to target Chinese interests in Pakistan.
The attack on the Chinese convoy is also a reminder of the security challenges that Pakistan faces. The Pakistani government needs to do more to address the root causes of the Baloch freedom movement if it wants to prevent further attacks on Chinese targets. The Pakistani government needs to reach out to the Baloch people and address their grievances. Otherwise, the attacks on Chinese targets are likely to continue.
