Islamabad: Condemning the recent terrorist attack on a five-star hotel, Prime Minister Imran Khan held that such acts especially in Balochistan are an attempt to sabotage Pakistan’s economic projects and prosperity as the port targeted is an important piece of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project in the country.

Mr Khan categorically stated in a statement on Saturday that the national security forces shall defeat the terrorists, adding that the government will do everything to dismantle such agendas from succeeding, Radio Pakistan reported.

Paying rich tributes to the the three martyrs and injured security personnel during the operation, the Prime Minister also appreciated the initial response by security guard and security forces in foiling greater loss to human lives.

On Saturday evening, three gunmen stormed into a five-star hotel in the southwestern Pakistani port city of Gwadar, prompting an hour long shootout with security forces in which one hotel guard and the attackers were killed.

Within hours of the assault unfolding, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack. “Our fighters have carried out this attack on Chinese and other foreign investors who were staying in PC hotel,” wrote Jihand Baloch, a BLA spokesperson, in an email to DW.