ISLAMABAD   -  At least two children died and three others including a Chinese national were injured in a suicide bomb blast targeting a convoy of vehicles carrying Chinese nationals in Gwadar district of Balochistan, a senior federal government official said on Friday.  The injured Chinese national is stable and has been evacuated to nearest Gwadar Hospital while another two children who received critical injuries in the heinous act of terrorism were admitted to the hospital, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior said. 

The two innocent children who were playing nearby the incident site lost their precious lives, the spokesperson added. “Strongly condemn suicide attack on Chinese nationals' vehicle in Gwadar," Balochistan government Spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani also said in a Twitter post.

The convoy of Chinese nationals comprising three Chinese vehicles with “integral” security details of Pakistan Army and police contingent was targeted on East Bay Expressway in Gwadar. The incident took place along the Coastal Road near a fishermen colony, the ministry said while giving details of the terrorism incident. 

According to the ministry, a young boy (a suicide bomber) ran out of the colony to target Chinese vehicles once the convoy reached there. The soldiers of Pakistan army deputed in plainclothes along the route for security rushed to intercept the boy, who immediately exploded himself about 15-20 meters away from the convoy.  

Both Pakistan and China recognise the threats posed to their cooperation and collaboration towards growth and development of their communities under the evolving regional environment, the spokesperson said. “Cognizant of hostile designs, Government of Pakistan is already undertaking a comprehensive review of security of Chinese brothers and is committed to ensuring their safe stay in Pakistan in this journey of progress.” We reaffirm our Chinese brothers our wholehearted endeavours to deal with these threats comprehensively, the spokesperson also said. He added that both countries stood together firmly in defeating “the inimical acts aiming to undermine their cooperation and friendship.”

Chinese has an important role in the development of Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea as part of $ 60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project.