China-Pakistan relations: Expressing rare public discontent, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong stated that China finds it unacceptable that Chinese nationals in Pakistan have been targeted twice by terrorists within six months. Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the ambassador highlighted seven casualties among Chinese nationals in suicide attacks since March, signalling rising concerns over security conditions for Chinese personnel in Pakistan.This discord surfaced after Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar remarked that Pakistan is the only country where China would still send nationals despite security risks. “The Chinese are very clear — they avoid sending personnel wherever security issues exist. Your country is the only exception,” Dar said, quoting discussions from recent diplomatic meetings.Jiang Zaidong responded directly, emphasising that “the security of Chinese citizens is paramount for President Xi Jinping.” He indicated that ongoing violence targeting Chinese nationals has led to serious consideration in Beijing regarding continued investment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and urged Pakistan to take “effective remedial measures” to curb such attacks.Unusual diplomatic tension between Pakistan and ChinaIn a rare response, Pakistans Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch described Jiangs remarks as “perplexing” and a notable departure from established diplomatic norms. Typically, China refrains from publicly criticising Pakistan regarding security for its nationals, while Pakistan rarely issues direct responses to Chinese diplomatic statements.The escalating violence against Chinese nationals has, however, created a diplomatic strain. The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for an attack near Karachi airport earlier this month that killed two Chinese citizens and injured ten others. Previously, five Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in March. These incidents add to the toll of 21 Chinese lives lost in Pakistan since the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project a decade ago.
