Pakistan Blames Afghanistan for Blast Targeting Chinese Engineers

Pakistani authorities claim the explosives-laden vehicle used in the attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers originated in Afghanistan. The Counter-Terrorism Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state says investigations indicate the vehicle entered Balochistan from Afghanistan through the Chaman border crossing before being transported to Dera Ismail Khan, where the attack occurred on Wednesday, March 27th.

The suicide bombing killed six people, including five Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydropower dam project. Pakistani authorities have detained 12 suspects in connection with the attack.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department alleges the attack was facilitated by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group Pakistan claims enjoys safe havens in Afghanistan. The Taliban in Afghanistan have consistently denied accusations of harboring the TTP.

Separately, former Pakistani intelligence minister Jan Achakzai identified “Hazrat Bilal” as the mastermind behind the attack and claimed his arrest alongside four accomplices.