Pakistan’s Qureshi heads for China to calm frayed nerves in Beijing over bus terror strike

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Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi  is set to visit China on Thursday, amid the friction between the two “iron brothers” following a bus blast in northern Pakistan, which killed nine Chinese engineers working on the Dasu power project. The website Daily Pakistan quoted Qureshi as saying  on Wednesday that he will be leaving for China on an official visit tomorrow (Thursday), the website Daily Pakistan reported.</p>
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<strong>Daily Pakistan Link: </strong> <a href="https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/21-Jul-2021/dasu-bus-incident-fm-qureshi-leaves-for-china-tomorrow">Dasu bus incident: FM Qureshi leaves for China tomorrow</a></p>
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Pakistan’s ARY, quoting its sources, said that the Dasu bus blast will be the focus of the visit during Qureshi’s talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.</p>
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A furious China has urged Pakistan to fully investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.</p>
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China reinforced its message with a phone call by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan where the issue was raised.</p>
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Not satisfied with the progress in the investigation of the attack on Chinese engineers  in Kohistan district on July 14, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan met the country’s powerful  army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday.</p>
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<strong>Also read:</strong>  <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/not-satisfied-with-pak-probe-on-bus-blast-china-now-mounts-pressure-on-army-chief-bajwa-103210.html">Not satisfied with Pak probe on bus blast, China now mounts pressure on Army chief Bajwa</a></p>
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The Chinese ambassador Nong Rong  conveyed to  Bajwa  China’s concerns about the security of Chinese nationals working on the various projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as reported by the Pakistani daily Dawn. CPEC is the flagship of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)—a prestige connectivity undertaking marshalled by Chinese President, Xi Jinping.</p>
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Gen. Bajwa, assuring  full cooperation and security of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan told the Chinese envoy that “investigations” are underway, and culprits will be nabbed very soon.</p>
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He also underlined that “Pakistan Army greatly values its brotherly relations” with its time-tested friend, China,” according to a press release issued by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) department. “The army chief told the ambassador that both countries need to thwart the designs of those threatening their strategic cooperation”.</p>
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China has also rushed 15 investigators to probe the incident. Besides, it issued an advisory to its citizens working in Pakistan to “stay on alert, pay close attention to the local security situation, strengthen security protection, take strict precautions, and stop going out unless necessary”.</p>
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The Chinese company, which is constructing the Dasu dam, has suspended work on the Dasu project since Saturday. </p>