By IANS
Beijing : China has asked Pakistan to ensure security of Chinese nationals working on various projects in that country in the wake of recent attacks on them.
China's Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan conveyed this to visiting Pakistani Secretary of Defence Kamran Rasool during their meeting here, Online news agency reported Thursday.
"The incidents (of attack on Chinese nationals) will not shake the foundation of the friendship between China and Pakistan, but I hope the government of Pakistan will take measures to further ensure safety of Chinese people in Pakistan," Cao said, signalling Beijing's apparent displeasure over frequent attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan.
The latest of such attack came early Thursday when militants in southeast Balochistan's Hub town attacked a convoy accompanying Chinese engineers on their way to Karachi killing 24 people. The Chinese, travelling in a van, were unharmed.
On July 8, unknown assailants opened fire on four Chinese nationals killing three of them and wounding the fourth.
Cao's comments followed that of the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Luo Zhaohui, who warned Islamabad that if Chinese people continued to be targeted, cooperation between the two countries could suffer. To protect the 3,000 Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, China and Pakistan have decided to set up a Joint Task Force (JTF), Luo was quoted as saying.