Bus Explosion and Crash in Pakistan... "13 Dead Including 9 Chinese"

Authorities Investigating Cause... Chinese Foreign Ministry Urges "Strict Punishment of Perpetrators"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] On the 14th (local time), a bus traveling in northern Pakistan exploded and rolled down into a valley, killing at least 13 people, including 9 Chinese nationals.

According to foreign and local media, on that day in the Upper Kohistan area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the north, a bus carrying dozens of workers including Chinese technicians, security forces, and residents exploded while in transit and rolled into a nearby valley.

AFP reported, citing government officials and police, that 13 people died in the accident, including 9 Chinese nationals.

A government official told AFP, "The explosion caused a fire in the engine, and the bus fell into a gorge," adding, "28 Chinese nationals were injured."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Local media such as Geo News reported that the number of Chinese fatalities was lower, between 4 and 6.

Among the non-Chinese deceased were also security personnel.

The bus was reportedly traveling from workers' accommodations to multiple dam hydroelectric power plants in Upper Kohistan.

Authorities transported the injured to nearby hospitals, controlled the accident site, and are investigating the cause of the explosion. They are investigating various possibilities, including whether a bomb was pre-installed on the bus or if an external attack occurred.

In response, China has classified the explosion as an attack on its nationals and urged Pakistani authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanded at a regular briefing that Pakistani authorities strictly punish the perpetrators.

Zhao also requested guarantees for the safety of local Chinese nationals and projects.

In Pakistan, over the past few years, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)?a land and maritime Silk Road connecting China, Central Asia, and Europe?has expanded, and related workers and Chinese nationals have often been exposed to attacks.

In April, the Pakistani Taliban carried out a bomb attack at a hotel in Quetta, Balochistan province in the southwest, killing more than four people.

Notably, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Nong Rong, was staying at the hotel at the time, but he was not present when the attack occurred.

Balochistan insurgents have long claimed that the Pakistani government and foreigners exploit the region's resources.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.