China warns its nationals of terrorist attacks in Pakistan

BEIJING/WASHINGTON: China and the United States have issued fresh advisories, warning their citizens in Pakistan of possible terrorist attacks and asking them to take appropriate measures for their safety and security.

In a warning issued on Friday, China cautioned its nationals in Pakistan against a series of imminent terrorist attacks on Chinese targets. This unusual alert comes as Beijing pours billions into infrastructure development projects in the country.

Thousands of Chinese workers are currently in Pakistan working on different projects under the $57 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor project. "It is understood that terrorists plan in the near term to launch a series of attacks against Chinese organisations and personnel in Pakistan," the Chinese embassy in Pakistan said in a statement on its website.

The embassy warned all "Chinese-invested organisations and Chinese citizens to increase security awareness, strengthen internal precautions, reduce trips outside as much as possible, and avoid crowded public spaces.”

It also asked Chinese nationals to cooperate with Pakistan’s police and the military, and to alert the embassy in the event of an emergency. It did not give any further details. —Reuters News desk adds: Meanwhile, in a related development, the Department of State on Thursday issued a fresh advisory warning to the American citizens against all non-essential travel to Pakistan in view of countrywide demonstrations after President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and plans to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The fresh travel advisory replaces the May 22, 2017 travel warning. As part of guideline, the US Embassy in Islamabad has also advised American citizens to maintain high level of vigilance and take appropriate measures for personal safety against possible attacks. The embassy has advised the citizens against visiting places of large gatherings, protests and demonstrations, as “even peaceful might turn confrontational and escalate into violence”.