ISLAMABAD: China and Pakistan Thursday denounced the terrorist attack in Quetta and said there were no casualties of Chinese citizens in the terrorist attack that hit the private hotel in Quetta, Balochistan.
On the night of April 21 local time, a car bomb attacked a hotel in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province, Pakistan, causing many casualties.
Separate statements issued by both countries said that all the Chinese nationals were safe and all necessary measures were in place for the safety and security of Chinese diplomats and nationals.
An official statement issued by the Chinese Embassy confirmed that Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong was leading a delegation on a visit in Quetta on the same day. “(However), when the attack occurred, the Chinese delegation was not in the hotel. Till present, no reports of casualties of Chinese citizens in the attack have been received,” the statement said.
“China strongly condemned the terrorist attack, expresses condolences to the unfortunate victims, and sympathy to the injured,” the statement informed.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office (FO) spokesman also strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Quetta. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the martyred and we wish a quick recovery to those injured. Such cowardly acts cannot shake our resolve to resolutely fight the scourge of terrorism,” a statement said.
“Thorough investigations, from all angles, are being carried out in the Quetta blast. Pakistan will pursue the perpetrators of this heinous act and bring them to justice,” the statement read.
Chinese Ambassador Rong was not present in the hotel at the time of the blast, the statement added.
“All Chinese nationals are safe. And all necessary measures are in place for the safety and security of Chinese diplomats and nationals,” the statement concluded.
