ISLAMABAD: Pakistan vowed to pursue the masterminds behind a suicide attack that claimed the lives of five Chinese engineers earlier this year while reaffirming its commitment to the regional connectivity initiative launched by President Xi Jinping’s administration during Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s three-day visit to Beijing.
According to a statement issued by the foreign office of Pakistan on Thursday, Dar, who is also the foreign minister, began his trip to China on May 13 where he co-chaired the Fifth Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Wang Yi before concluding his visit.
During his stay in Beijing, the two sides discussed multiple global and regional challenges, including the second phase of the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The foreign office said both countries condemned the March 26 suicide attack on the Chinese workers who were on their way to the Dasu Hydropower Project in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“In keeping with its ironclad friendship with China, the Pakistani side would hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice, take more effective security measures, and make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan,” the statement said while providing details of the discussions between both countries.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Sharif, said last week the attack was planned in “terrorist sanctuaries” in neighboring Afghanistan while addressing a news conference.
His assertion came amid accusations from officials in Islamabad that the administration in Kabul was not doing enough to prevent groups like banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from launching cross-border attacks.
“The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with a ‘zero tolerance’ attitude, and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and security through a comprehensive approach,” the foreign office continued.
Pakistan also agreed to work with China to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and forge an upgraded CPEC version by jointly building growth, livelihood, innovation and green corridors and aligning them with Pakistan’s development framework and priorities.
“The two sides agreed to accelerate progress on major connectivity projects including upgradation of ML-1 [railway infrastructure], the Gwadar Port, realignment of Karakoram Highway Phase II, strengthen cooperation in agriculture, industrial parks, mining, information technology and other fields according to local conditions, and enhance Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development,” the foreign office informed.
“The two sides believe that the Khunjerab pass plays an important role in promoting bilateral trade and people-to-people exchanges, and agreed to speed up efforts to make sure that the Khunjerab Pass can function all year round,” it continued.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen communication and coordination over issues related to Afghanistan, calling for concerted efforts of the international community to help deal with the humanitarian situation in that country.
They agreed to play a positive and constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community.
Additionally, Pakistan and China expressed satisfaction at their expanding space cooperation and agreed to further build on it for a peaceful and mutually-beneficial exploration of space.
Earlier this month, Pakistan sent an imaging device in outer space as part of China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on a daylong visit to Azad Kashmir on Thursday where he will interact with officials and visit the site of a hydropower project, just a few days after a massive public protest in the region resulted in at least four fatalities.
The unprecedented protests against price hikes broke out last Friday and spread across the semi-autonomous Himalayan territory under Pakistan’s administration.
One police officer was killed in the clashes while three protesters lost their lives in clashes taking place in different parts of the region.
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which organized the demonstrations, announced to end its protest on Tuesday after the Sharif administration approved $82 million in subsidies to provide relief to people who objected to the increase in flour prices and electricity tariffs.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will arrive in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir today for a one-day visit,” his office announced in a statement circulated in the morning. “A meeting will take place between the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq.”
Sharif will also address the cabinet of the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir that will be broadcast by the state-owned news channel.
He will also meet with the leaders of the Kashmiri freedom movement.
“The Prime Minister will visit the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project where he will be briefed,” the statement added.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory, but claiming it in full.
Pakistan has frequently criticized New Delhi for mismanaging the portion of Kashmir under its rule, accusing it of rights violations while using its forces to suppress people and their aspirations.