A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vest near a van carrying five Japanese Autoworkers in Parkistan’s port city of Karachi, injuring three bystanders while those in the van escaped unhurt. The van was heading towards an industrial area where the five Japanese autoworkers work. The escorting police force returned fire when after coming under attack, killing an accomplice of the bomber. Similarly, in March 2024, a suicide attacker rammed his explosive-laden car into a convoy carrying five Chinese nationals, killing all occupants of the vehicle. These Chinese laborers were working on the Dasu dam, a hydroelectric dam being constructed by a Chinese company.

These incidents are only a small part of the string of terrorist attacks on the workers working on China-funded projects in Pakistan. Terrorists also attacked a Pakistani military air base and a strategic port in the southwest of the country, where China has invested billions in infrastructure projects. In 2021, 13 people were killed by a bus bomb attack in Dasu, among them nine were Chinese.

Kamran Bokhari, a senior director of Eurasian security and prosperity at the New Lines Institute in Washington, stated that “this latest attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan heightens growing fears in Beijing about the bleak future of its tens of billions in investments in the country.” President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attacks on Chinese nationals and Japanese workers, declaring that “Anti-Pakistani elements will never succeed in harming the Pakistan-China friendship.”

The alliance between China and Pakistan was forged in the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-Indian border dispute and has since evolved into a strategic partnership with shared concerns regarding regional security and economic interests. China has invested an estimated $62 billion in infrastructure projects in Pakistan such as the China-Parkistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which seeks to connect the two countries through the creation of a transportation corridor.

At a press conference held by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs in January 2022, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin claimed that “the bond of friendship and mutual assistance between the Chinese and Pakistani people is stronger than gold, and the two countries’ iron-clad friendship is deeply rooted in the people and boasts strong vitality.”

Yet, the surging attacks from militant and terrorist groups have only grown in frequency and intensity after U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan, a neighboring country of Pakistan, in 2021. Baluch separatists, whose attacks target Chinese-funded projects, claim that Chinese workers pillage natural resources such as gold and marine products that should be exclusively owned by the people of Baluchistan. Another group, known as the Pakistani Taliban, has close ties to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, which aims to achieve independence for Uyghur Muslims in China. This relationship propels those of the Pakistani Taliban to carry out attacks on Chinese interests in Pakistan as a retaliation for China’s treatment of Uyghurs.

While China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Pakistan to “thoroughly investigate the incident as soon as possible, hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” and that “No attempt to undermine China-Pakistan cooperation will succeed. China opposes all forms of terrorism and firmly supports Pakistan in fighting terrorism. China will work with Pakistan with an even stronger commitment to do everything possible to protect the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan,” the attacks have failed to be quelled by efforts of investigation as demonstrated by the most recent attack on Japanese autoworkers.

The targeted attacks toward specific China-funded interests stem from the resentment of armed factions in Afghanistan and Pakistan due to its treatment of China’s Uyghur minority. These groups see China as an oppressor of Muslims and protest against this injustice by carrying out suicide bombing attacks. These attacks seemingly aim to falter the relationship between China and Pakistan, although both countries have repeatedly put out statements that their relationship will not be impacted by these incidents.

It’s evident that the current approach to counterterrorism, which focuses primarily on enforcing military and security measures, has its limits. While these methods may be necessary, they fail to address the root causes of extremism and terrorism such as geopolitical tensions and ideological indoctrination. Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province but also its poorest, despite the area’s ample natural resources. This drastic contrast between the socioeconomic potential and reality has brewed resentment, causing many in Balochistan to believe that the successive Pakistani governments have neglected their needs while exploiting the province to benefit foreigners. Simply increasing security measures has failed to address the underlying causes of terrorist attacks such as these. What will benefit both the country and its peacemaking attempts with foreign relations is a holistic approach that promotes socio-economic development and facilitates diplomatic dialogue with local communities. Continuing to oppress rebellions by force will only fuel these long-standing grievances, escalating the situation into further violence and the growth of terrorist organizations.

Furthermore, humanitarian assistance to communities affected by conflict and displacement, including the Uyghur minorities, will serve to build more a friendly relationship with militant groups in Pakistan and reduce the likelihood of individuals being drawn to extremist groups. Moving forward, it’s essential to foster cooperation between the government and local communities while addressing the root causes of resentment and injustice. This will enable us to engage in diplomatic dialogue with terrorist groups to understand their grievances. It gives us a chance to achieve peacemaking motives through more peaceful negotiations, which would more effectively de-escalate tensions and prevent the further increase of violence towards foreign nationals.