China has temporarily closed down the consular section of its embassy in Pakistan days after advising Chinese citizens to remain cautious due to the deteriorating security situation. However, China cited ‘technical issues’ for the closing of the consular section. 

The embassy announced this on its website, refraining from providing specific information about the nature of the “technical issue” or the timeline for the closure.

“Due to technical issues, the consular section of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad will be temporarily closed from February 13, 2023, until further notice,” the notice said.

This comes after the Chinese government advised Chinese citizens to be cautious in Pakistan. It alerted its citizens and stated that they might be at risk due to the deteriorating security situation. Pakistan has seen an increase in terror attacks since last year. Last year a female suicide bomber killed three Chinese teachers in Karachi along with their local driver. 

Pakistan has seen a rise in terror attacks since late last year when the Pakistani Taliban group called off a fragile truce with the government.

Various militant groups in Pakistan have frequently attacked Chinese nationals working on the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aiming to threaten a major segment of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Chinese nationals who worked on the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have faced multiple attacks from various terrorist groups in the country. The $65-billion CPEC is a network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports in Pakistan connecting China to the Arabian Sea.

Meanwhile, the Belt and Road infrastructure initiative is expected to help Pakistan modernise its economy. 

It must be mentioned that China is Pakistan’s most important partner, and the latter’s financial survival largely depends on the former.  

Image source: Twitter