ISLAMABAD: China has warned its nationals against traveling to Pakistan’s two western provinces, South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday, following a deadly suicide bombing in Karachi that killed two of its citizens on Sunday.
The attack occurred just before the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, scheduled for next week, and was claimed by the separatist armed group, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which said it used a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device for the explosion.
This was not the first attack against Chinese nationals in Karachi, where the same militant group killed three Chinese academics and their local driver in a suicide bombing in April 2022.
Pakistan announced plans to strengthen security protocols for Chinese workers in the country earlier this year after another suicide attack killed five Chinese workers on the Dasu Hydropower Project, and took strict disciplinary action against five senior officials for their “negligence.”
“In a statement on Monday, the embassy advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to the southwest province of Balochistan and the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which have seen a surge in attacks targeting Chinese personnel and projects,” the Hong Kong-based newspaper, known for providing in-depth coverage on Asia-Pacific, said in its report.
It added that Beijing had called on Islamabad to “severely punish” the attackers and “plug security loopholes” to protect the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Chinese nationals.
A statement in English available on the embassy’s website reminds “Chinese citizens, enterprises, and projects in Pakistan to be vigilant, pay close attention to the security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions.”
The BLA opposes Pakistan’s control over Balochistan, claiming the region is exploited for its resources without benefiting the local population, an allegation denied by the state.
The group also has a history of targeting Chinese interests in the country due to Beijing’s involvement in infrastructure projects in Balochistan.
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday the Chinese killed in the Sunday attack were Independent Power Producers engineers, adding that the government was in energy debt restructuring negotiations with them.
A senior Pakistani politician, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who closely monitors China-Pakistan relations, also shared the South China Morning Post story on social media, expressing regret over the situation.
“What a Shame, this travel advisory, warning of dangers of travel to Pakistan, is not emanating from Washington or London, but from Beijing, our next-door neighbor & Strategic Partner,” he wrote on X.
“China has huge investments in strife-torn Nigeria & Congo, but never have we witnessed there 19 murders of Chinese engineers & technicians in 6 incidents in 5 years, as we see these recurring in Pakistan,” he added.
Sayed questioned the priorities of the current government, saying it was focusing more on local protesters than addressing militants operating in the country.
China warns citizens against travel to Pakistan after deadly suicide bombing — report
https://arab.news/ywvwt
China warns citizens against travel to Pakistan after deadly suicide bombing — report
- Two Chinese engineers were killed in a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device blast in Karachi on Sunday
- Beijing has called on Islamabad to ‘severely punish’ the attackers and ‘plug security loopholes’ to protect CPEC
Suicide blast targeting army school bus kills five in Pakistan’s Balochistan province
- Around 40 students were on the bus that was headed to an army-run school
- Pakistan’s military, PM condemn the violence and accused “Indian terror proxies”
QUETTA, Pakistan: At least three children were among five people killed when a suicide bomber targeted an army school bus in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, officials said, in an attack Pakistan blamed on “Indian proxies.”
Around 40 students were on the bus that was headed to an army-run school and several have sustained injuries, said Yasir Iqbal, the administrator of Khuzdar district, where the incident took place.
Pakistan’s military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif swiftly released statements condemning the violence and accusing “Indian terror proxies” of involvement in the attack. They did not share evidence linking the attack to New Delhi.
India’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At least three children and two adults were killed in the attack, the army said in a statement. Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors are high after they struck a ceasefire on May 10 that diplomats have warned is fragile, following the most intense military action in decades in a conflict analysts and officials feared could spiral out of control.
Both countries accuse the other of supporting militancy on each other’s soil — a charge both capitals deny. The latest military escalation, in which the two countries traded missiles, was sparked after India accused Pakistan of supporting militants who attacked dozens of tourists in the Indian portion of the contested region of Kashmir. Islamabad denies any involvement.
Southwestern Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, but smallest by population. The province of some 15 million people in the southwest of the country is home to key mining projects but has been roiled by a decades-old insurgency.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which was reminiscent of one of the deadliest militant attacks in Pakistan’s history when an attack on a military school in the northern city of Peshawar in 2014 killed more than 130 children.
It was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Attacks by separatist groups in Balochistan have risen in recent years. The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, blew up a railway track and took passengers from a train hostage in March, killing 31.
In Pakistan, people don’t run with bulls, they race them in spectacular style
- Bull racing, Punjabi style, captures the raw energy of village life and is a world away from floodlit Pakistani cricket and hockey stadiums
- Bull racing has deep roots in Attock district of Punjab province where is more than just a sport but part of region’s living heritage
MALAL, Pakistan: Bulls are yoked together by thick wooden frames in a sun-scorched field of rural Pakistan, while behind them, holding onto nothing more than ropes and his honor, is a man on a plank.
Hundreds of spectators whoop and cheer as the animals begin to hurtle down a track, whipping up a storm of dust and imminent danger.
This is bull racing, Punjabi style.
The traditional sport captures the raw energy of village life and is a world away from the floodlit cricket and hockey stadiums found in many Pakistani cities.
Bull racing has deep roots in the Attock district of eastern Punjab province. It is more than just a sport there, it is a part of the region’s living heritage.
In the village of Malal, one of bull racing’s most vibrant hubs, hundreds of people gather every year to witness the spectacle. Jockeys crouch behind the animals on a plank, gripping onto some reins and relying on experience and instinct to triumph.
But there’s always a chance for chaos as it’s common for the bulls to throw the jockey off his platform and drag him through the dirt.
“This isn’t just entertainment, it’s tradition,” said Sardar Haseeb, whose family has been holding races for generations. “We take pride in our animals. Farmers and landowners raise their bulls year round just for this moment. People are willing to pay high prices for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.”
The bull race creates a festive atmosphere, complete with dancing and banknotes thrown into the air — a celebratory practice normally seen at weddings.
The scent of freshly fried sweets rises from hot pans to lure the crowds. Stallholders prepare roasted chickpeas and other delicacies. The hustle and bustle becomes a source of income for enterprising locals, who benefit from the cultural event.
More than 100 bulls competed in the event that Haseeb hosted, with people traveling from across Pakistan to be part of the race.
Among the competitors was farmer Muhammad Ramzan.
“My bull came in fifth place and I’m thrilled,” he said. “It left 95 others behind.”
‘Heartbroken’ Malala calls on world leaders to end Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza
- Nobel Peace Prize winner draws attenion to starving children, demolished schools and hospitals, blocked humanitarian aid in Gaza
- The war, now in its 20th month, has killed over 53,000, left Gaza in ruins and its population facing a worsening hunger crisis
KARACHI: Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai on Wednesday said she was “heartbroken” by starving children, demolished schools and hospitals, blocked humanitarian aid and displaced families in Gaza, calling on world leaders to push Israel to end its ‘genocide’ in the besieged enclave.
Israel’s ground and air offensive, launched in October 2023, has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and killed more than 53,000, according to Gaza health authorities. Israeli strikes have killed more than 500 people in the past nine days alone as its military campaign has intensified, Gaza medics say.
The war, now in its 20th month, has left Gaza in ruins and its population facing a worsening hunger crisis. It has strained Israel’s relations with much of the world and those with its closest ally, the United States, now appear to be wavering.
“It makes me sick to my stomach to see Israel’s cruelty and brutality in Gaza. I am heartbroken seeing thousands of starving children, demolished schools and hospitals, blocked humanitarian aid and displaced families,” Malala wrote on X.
“Our collective humanity calls for global and immediate action. I call on every world leader to put maximum pressure on the Israeli government to end this genocide and protect civilians.”
Malala’s statement came as Britain announced it was suspending trade talks with Israel and summoning its ambassador over “egregious policies” in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament he, along with the leaders of France and Canada, was “horrified” by Israel’s military escalation, repeating calls for a ceasefire.
The three nations had warned on Monday of “concrete actions” against Israel if it did not stop military operations in Gaza and lift restrictions on aid.
In addition to suspending trade talks, Britain announced sanctions against a number of individuals and groups in the Israeli-occupied West Bank over alleged violence against Palestinian residents.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has also asked for a review of the EU-Israel trade deal, according to Dutch news agency ANP.
EU sanctions on violent Israeli settlers have been prepared but have so far been blocked by one member state, Kallas said, without naming the country.
“External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein posted on X.
The United Nations said no humanitarian aid had been distributed yet in Gaza, although Israel eased its 11-week-old blockade on Monday.
“Israeli authorities are requiring us to offload supplies on the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom crossing and reload them separately once they secure our team’s access from inside Gaza,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
He said four trucks of baby food were dropped off on the Palestinian side of the border on Monday, and that a few dozen trucks of flour, medicine, nutrition supplies and other basic items entered Gaza on Tuesday.
Israel’s military said 93 UN aid trucks entered Gaza on Tuesday via Kerem Shalom “after a thorough security inspection.”
– With inputs from Reuters
Pakistan reports two new polio cases, bringing 2025 tally to 10
- Pakistan, Afghanistan last two countries in the world where polio remains endemic
- Pakistan reported 74 cases of polio in 2024, raising alarm bells over a fresh breakout
KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio eradication program said on Wednesday two new cases of the wild poliovirus had been detected in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the tally of 2025 cases to 10.
The new cases have emerged ahead of the government launching a third nationwide campaign to vaccinate children under the age of five, scheduled from May 26 to June 1. The campaign will target over 45.4 million children across 159 districts, including high-risk areas of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the new cases have been detected.
Polio is a paralyzing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of 5 are essential to provide children high immunity against the disease.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus in District Lakki Marwat and District Bannu, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the body said in a statement.
“With these latest detections, the total number of confirmed polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has risen to 10, five from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one from Punjab.”
The statement said while polio vaccination campaigns continued nationwide, with two already held in 2025, certain areas, particularly in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, faced challenges such as restricted access and difficulties in conducting house-to-house vaccination drives.
“These access and operational hurdles leave thousands of children, particularly in South KP, at risk of exposure to poliovirus as a result of missed opportunities for vaccination,” the statement said.
Due to ongoing access constraints and community concerns, children in UC Bakhmal Ahmad Zai (Lakki Marwat) missed out on vaccination opportunities during the February and April 2025 immunization campaigns, resulting in immunity gaps.
In UC Saintanga, Tehsil Wazir (Bannu), no comprehensive campaign had been implemented since October 2023. Limited access, shortage of female vaccinators, and gaps in monitoring had contributed to immunity gaps, leaving children at continued risk of poliovirus transmission.
“The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program is actively engaging with all stakeholders to address operational and access challenges and to enhance the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns in these high-risk areas. An intensified vaccination schedule is being implemented to interrupt virus transmission and protect children from lifelong paralysis,” the polio program added.
In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 polio cases annually but in 2018 the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries in the world where polio remains endemic.
Pakistan’s polio program began in 1994 but efforts to eradicate the virus have since been undermined by vaccine misinformation and opposition from some religious hard-liners who say immunization is a foreign ploy to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western spies.
Militant groups also frequently attack and kill members of polio vaccine teams and security guards protecting them.
Islamabad, Beijing discuss bolstering ‘collective response mechanisms’ after India-Pakistan fighting
Islamabad, Beijing discuss bolstering ‘collective response mechanisms’ after India-Pakistan fighting
- Islamabad’s worst military standoff with New Delhi in decades gave Chinese weapons a rare battle test
- Pakistan used China’s J10-C Vigorous Dragon and JF-17 Thunder planes, armed with air-to-air missiles
KARACHI: Beijing’s ambassador to Islamabad met the Pakistani air chief on Tuesday evening, with the two leaders vowing to “bolster collective response mechanisms to emerging threats,” the Pakistan army said in a statement, a little over a week after Islamabad’s worst military standoff with New Delhi in decades gave Chinese weapons a rare battle test.
The most striking claim from four days of fighting earlier this month was the contention of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) that its Chinese-supplied jets had shot down six Indian aircraft — including three French-made Rafale fighters — with some observers seeing this as a symbol of Beijing’s rising military might.
Pakistan accounts for around 63 percent of China’s arms exports, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
In the recent fighting with India, Pakistan used the J10-C Vigorous Dragon and JF-17 Thunder planes, armed with air-to-air missiles. It was the first time the J10-C has been used in active combat. Islamabad’s air defenses also used Chinese kit — including the HQ-9P long-range surface-to-air missile system — and deployed Chinese radar as well as armed and reconnaissance drones.
On Tuesday evening, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, and engaged in a “comprehensive and in-depth discussion on a range of matters including corporate-level engagements, defense cooperation and the evolving geostrategic environment in the region.”
“They underscored the importance of cohesive & collaborative approaches in responding to emerging challenges, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining peak operational readiness and swift coordination amidst the prevailing regional security dynamics,” the Pakistan army said in a statement released after the meeting.
Sidhu commended China’s role in assisting Pakistan’s defense modernization and technological advancement.
“Both the dignitaries reaffirmed their pledge to institutionalize regular high-level exchanges through expanded joint operational exercises and exploration of multilateral frameworks that bolster collective response mechanisms to emerging threats,” the Pakistan army said.
The statement said the Chinese ambassador lauded the “unmatched operational excellence” demonstrated by PAF personnel during the recent standoff with India, terming it a reflection of PAF’s “high standards and unwavering commitment to national defense.”
“He praised Pakistan Air Force for its exemplary professionalism and commendable utilization of Chinese-origin equipment & technology to thwart enemy aggression,” the Pakistan army said.
“The dignitary also acknowledged PAF’s operational effectiveness and strategic acumen in employing indigenous solutions and advanced systems to safeguard national interests and deter potential threats under the current leadership.”
The ambassador assured “full technical assistance” to PAF to bolster its aerial defense capabilities, adding that continued focus on homegrown technological development would further elevate the country’s defense capabilities.
Nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India halted their worst fighting in nearly three decades after agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10, following diplomacy and pressure from the United States.
On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi sad Beijing welcomed and supported efforts by Pakistan and India to handle their differences through dialogue and to achieve a “comprehensive and lasting” ceasefire.
With inputs from AFP and Reuters
