China Presses Pakistan to Hold Killers of Chinese Nationals Accountable

ISLAMABAD - China asked Pakistan on Friday to bring to justice planners of this week's "terrorist attack" in the neighboring country that killed at least nine Chinese workers and three of their Pakistani coworkers. 

Premier Li Keqiang raised the issue with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan by phone, Chinese state media reported. Li stressed the need for Pakistan to "use all necessary measures" to investigate the incident and hold the culprits accountable. Khan's office said in a statement that he assured Li that his government would spare no effort to fully investigate the incident. "No hostile forces would be allowed to damage brotherly relations between Pakistan and China," he added. Wednesday's suspected suicide attack — the largest loss of life of Chinese citizens in Pakistan in recent years — targeted a two-bus convoy transporting Chinese and Pakistani workers to the China-funded Dasu hydropower project that is under construction in the northwestern Kohistan region.