By Asif Shahzad
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistani authorities are seeking to curb movements of Chinese citizens during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting next week because of a security risk from militant groups targeting them, according to three security officials and an internal security note.
The decision has come after the killing of two Chinese engineers in a bombing near Pakistan’s Karachi international airport on Sunday claimed by separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
The meeting of the SCO, which comprises nine full members, including China, India, Iran and Russia, is scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16 in Islamabad. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to arrive in the city prior to the meeting.
“Orders have been received from concerned authority that Chinese move of all types including intra-city/ inter-city/ airport etc to be ceased from 14 to 17 Oct 24 in connection with SCO summit and various delegations visit,” the alert, shared with several Pakistani security agencies and seen by Reuters, said.
Three top security officials who received the alert said it had also been conveyed to Chinese authorities.
“All concerned to make sure that Chinese are conveyed it in advance so that important moves are adjusted before that. No violations will be accepted during this period,” the alert said.
The Chinese embassy in Islamabad and Pakistan’s interior ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The bombing was the latest in a string of attacks against Chinese nationals in Pakistan over the last four years, including a March suicide bombing that killed five Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project.
Beijing called on Islamabad to implement more stringent security measures.
BLA, the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that has fought the federal government for decades, targets Chinese interests – including the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea – as it accuses Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit local resources. It has previously killed Chinese citizens and attacked China’s consulate in Karachi.
The security officials say the latest attack in a highly secure area was a complete security failure and that all senior staff responsible for Chinese security in Karachi had been removed from service.
Pakistan’s interior ministry is primarily responsible for the security of Chinese nationals and their interests.
(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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