Chinese Embassy Consular: China has temporarily closed the commercial section of its embassy in Islamabad due to technical issues, days after advising Chinese citizens to be cautious due to the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan. The embassy announced this on its website, while refraining from giving clear information about the nature of the technical problem or the time frame for its closure.
Due to technical issues, the commercial section of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad will remain temporarily closed from February 13, 2023 until further notice, the embassy notification said. The notification comes after a notice issued by the Chinese government last week, in which Chinese citizens were advised to be cautious in Pakistan, saying that they may be at risk due to the deteriorating security situation.
Attack on Chinese citizens
Pakistan has seen an increase in terrorist attacks since late last year, when the Pakistani Taliban group scrapped its deal with the government. Different terrorist groups have been attacking Chinese nationals working on the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan, threatening to jeopardize Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a USD 65 billion network of roads, railways, pipelines and ports in Pakistan linking China to the Arabian Sea. BRI is expected to help Pakistan in expansion and modernization of its economy. Last April, a female suicide bomber killed three Chinese teachers along with her local driver in Karachi, targeting citizens of China as Pakistan’s most important ally and undermining a relationship that Islamabad has always valued. Finance depends to a large extent.
