Q: It is learned that China’s inter-agency working group has arrived in Pakistan as part of the effort to deal with the terrorist attack in Karachi on October 6. Can you share the details?  

A: Following the attack on a Chinese convoy of the Coal-fired Power Plant at Port Qasim which killed and injured Chinese personnel on October 6, China quickly sent an inter-agency working group to Pakistan as part of the response to the incident. After arriving in Islamabad on October 8, the working group immediately joined the Embassy in Pakistan and the company concerned in the emergency response. The working group met intensively with heads of Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and military, police and intelligence departments. The working group asked the Pakistani side to properly handle ensuing matters, make every effort to save the injured, conduct thorough investigations, bring all the perpetrators to justice, and step up security measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects in Pakistan. Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack and is fully dealing with the aftermath, investigating the incident and nailing down the perpetrators. Pakistan said it will further strengthen security measures and make all-out effort to protect China’s interests in Pakistan.

While in Pakistan, the working group mourned the Chinese victims, and visited the injured in the hospital and the company’s employees at the project camp.