GWADAR / QUETTA: Security forces killed two terrorists when they atta­cked a military convoy escorting Chinese workers to a port project in Gwadar on Sunday, officials said.

The Inter-Services Pub­lic Relations (ISPR) said the terrorists attacked the convoy at 10am, using small arms and hand grenades.

“However, due to the efficient and swift res­ponse, two terrorists were sent to hell with no harm to any military or civil persons,” it said in a statement.

The military expressed its resolve to “thwart efforts of the enemies of peace and prosperity in the country”.

In an earlier statement, the military’s media wing said the operation was launched in the area after the presence of terrorists was reported, adding that one militant had been killed and three others were injured during the exchange of fire.

The ISPR statement did not mention the presence of Chinese nationals.

However, the Chinese consulate in Karachi said in a statement that a Chinese convoy from the Gwadar port project “was hit by roadside bombs and gunfire on its way back to the port area from the Gwadar Airport”.

The consulate said no Chinese citizens were killed or injured in the attack.

The consulate asked Pakistan to “severely punish the perpetrators and take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects”.

It said the Chinese consulate general “has activated the contingency plan as soon as possible, reminding local Chinese citizens, enterprises, and projects to be vigilant, upgrade security measures, prevent security risks, and pay close attention to the security situation to ensure safety”.

The Majid Brigade, a wing of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack.

A senior police officer said Chinese engineers and other staff members remained unhurt in the attack as they were travelling in bulletproof vehicles.

Officials said three soldiers were injured in the two-hour exchange of fire with militants. They were identified as Naib Subedar Mirbaz, Lance Nike Sajid and Sepoy Kamran.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2023