Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday afternoon that Pakistan and China were cooperating to find the real culprits behind the attack on a bus carrying Chinese nationals to Dasu dam on July 14.
“I visited China recently and discussed the security situation in wake of the Dasu incident. We (Pakistan and China) have the same views. We trust each other. We are investigating the Dasu incident together and are determined to find out the real culprits,” he told journalists here at a news conference.
The FM’s words came as Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism police arrested two suspects from Lahore in connection with the deadly attack on a bus carrying Chinese nationals to Dasu Dam.
The suspects, two brothers, were arrested from Defence area of Lahore where they had been living for the last 15 years, according to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab police.
The two had moved to Lahore from Quetta. CTD had received reports about their involvement in recent terror attacks. The suspects are believed to be ‘directly or indirectly involved’ in the terror activities.
At least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, and four Pakistanis i.e. two security personnel and two citizens, were killed and 28 were injured when a bus carrying them to an under-construction site of Dasu hydropower project fell into a ravine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after an explosion on July 14.
Pakistani and Chinese security experts are jointly investigating the Dasu bus attack to trace the “hidden hands” behind the tragic incident.
Foreign Minister Qureshi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have agreed to jointly combat terrorism. He said no conspiracy could derail China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He said during his recent meeting with Chinese FM Wang Yi, it was decided that both Pakistan and China would jointly face the security challenge.
“Some elements wanted to damage the mega CPEC project. However, the country’s security apparatus has averted the nefarious designs of enemies,” he added.
FM Qureshi also said that he met with the leadership of China, Tajikistan, Russia, Iran and Uzbekistan for coordinated efforts for a peaceful solution to the issue of Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan had also invited Afghan leadership to discuss challenges and their resolution. However, the peace talk was postponed on the willingness of Afghan government.
The FM maintained that Afghan leadership would have to sit together and sort out solution for their country.
