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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Isis claims to kill Chinese couple studying and teaching in Pakistan | Isis claims to kill Chinese couple studying and teaching in Pakistan |
| (25 days later) | |
| Islamic State claims to have killed two Chinese nationals who were abducted last month in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, in the heart of a large-scale infrastructure project between the two countries. | Islamic State claims to have killed two Chinese nationals who were abducted last month in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, in the heart of a large-scale infrastructure project between the two countries. |
| The claim, by the Isis news agency Amaq, came hours after the Pakistani military announced it had carried out a successful operation against Isis-affiliated militants in the same region. | The claim, by the Isis news agency Amaq, came hours after the Pakistani military announced it had carried out a successful operation against Isis-affiliated militants in the same region. |
| The Chinese couple were studying Urdu in Quetta, where they reportedly also ran a Mandarin language course. They were kidnapped in late May by men wearing police uniforms. | The Chinese couple were studying Urdu in Quetta, where they reportedly also ran a Mandarin language course. They were kidnapped in late May by men wearing police uniforms. |
| Although most foreigners need permission even for short visits to Balochistan, an increasing number of Chinese have settled in the region, mainly to work on projects related to the $57bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). | Although most foreigners need permission even for short visits to Balochistan, an increasing number of Chinese have settled in the region, mainly to work on projects related to the $57bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). |
| “Islamic State fighters killed two Chinese people they had been holding in Baluchistan province, south-west Pakistan,” Amaq said. | “Islamic State fighters killed two Chinese people they had been holding in Baluchistan province, south-west Pakistan,” Amaq said. |
| There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistani authorities of the killing, and Chinese embassy officials were not immediately available for comment. | There was no immediate confirmation from Pakistani authorities of the killing, and Chinese embassy officials were not immediately available for comment. |
| Reports circulating on social media and broadcast by some national television channels claimed the couple had been rescued but were denied by a spokesman for Balochistan’s provincial government, Anwarul Haq Kakar. | Reports circulating on social media and broadcast by some national television channels claimed the couple had been rescued but were denied by a spokesman for Balochistan’s provincial government, Anwarul Haq Kakar. |
| A security official in Balochistan told the Guardian that the Chinese couple might have held in Mastung, the town targeted in the military operation. A rescue operation had failed to locate the couple, but agents had found a vehicle they suspected had been used for the kidnapping, he said. | A security official in Balochistan told the Guardian that the Chinese couple might have held in Mastung, the town targeted in the military operation. A rescue operation had failed to locate the couple, but agents had found a vehicle they suspected had been used for the kidnapping, he said. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s military released a statement detailing a three-day raid in the beginning of June on a complex of caves close to the town of Mastung. According to a press release, the operation killed 10-15 “hardcore terrorists” from the Lashkar-e Jhangvi group, who allegedly intended to help Isis establish a foothold in the area. | Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s military released a statement detailing a three-day raid in the beginning of June on a complex of caves close to the town of Mastung. According to a press release, the operation killed 10-15 “hardcore terrorists” from the Lashkar-e Jhangvi group, who allegedly intended to help Isis establish a foothold in the area. |
| The operation also recovered an arms cache and destroyed a facility for making improvised explosive devices, the military said. | The operation also recovered an arms cache and destroyed a facility for making improvised explosive devices, the military said. |
| While an estimated few hundred Islamic State fighters control pockets of territory in neighbouring Afghanistan, the group has struggled to get a foothold in Pakistan. The group was responsible for a bomb attack on the Balochistan senate last month that killed 25 people. | While an estimated few hundred Islamic State fighters control pockets of territory in neighbouring Afghanistan, the group has struggled to get a foothold in Pakistan. The group was responsible for a bomb attack on the Balochistan senate last month that killed 25 people. |