Islamabad: 18 July 2021 (TDI): A Chinese delegation has arrived in Pakistan to provide assistance to the Pakistani team in investigating the recent Dasu Bus incident which resulted in the death of 9 Chinese and 3 Pakistani workers. The reality behind the incident has become a matter of concern for both Pakistani and Chinese sides.
The delegation comprises 15 Chinese nationals from the Chinese Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, criminal investigation departments, and technical experts. The delegation is led by Wu Wei, deputy director-general of the Department of External Security Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese delegation met the injured workers at CMH Rawalpindi upon arrival.
It also held a meeting with the representatives of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign affairs. The delegation was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong. Both sides consoled each other over the tragic incident. During the meeting, the delegation was briefed about the progress of the investigation of the incident. An update on the injured Chinese nationals’ treatment and recovery was also provided to them.
Chinese representatives also visited the accident site and met the on-spot investigators and got briefed by them. After the briefing and examination, the Chinese delegation appreciated the efforts made by Pakistan to find the truth behind the incident.
Bus Attack on Chinese
At least 12 persons, including nine Chinese engineers and two Frontier Corps personnel, died and several others were injured on Wednesday in a bus “attack” near the Dasu hydropower plant in the Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
China asked Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the attack. China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson express his shock and condemnation over the bombing.
Spokesperson has urged Pakistan to “severely punish the perpetrators“ and “earnestly protect the safety of Chinese nationals, organisations and projects” in the country.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan “strongly condemned the incident”, expressed condolences with the victims and the injured, adding that it “will do its best with Pakistan to deal with the incident”.
“The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan hereby reminds Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects in Pakistan to attach great importance to them, pay close attention to the local security situation, strengthen the safety of project personnel, take strict precautions, and do not go out unless necessary,” the statement read.
It, however, added that Pakistani authorities “were investigating the cause”.
Later in the day, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi offered his condolences to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the “tragic incident in which a bus carrying Chinese workers plunged into a ravine after developing a mechanical failure”.
Qureshi asked Yi to convey condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, according to a statement by the FO.
