Islamabad: Three Chinese engineers were killed and 11 others injured in a car bomb attack triggered by suspected militants in Southwest Pakistan today (May 3, 2004), police sources said.

The attack took place at around 09:40 hrs (IST) as 12 Chinese engineers were being transported by a coach to Gwadar port, about 500 kilometers West of Karachi, near the border with Iran, Sattar Lasi, the chief of police in Gwadar, said.

"A car was parked near the port and it exploded as the bus reached the port," he said, adding it was not clear if it had been a suicide attack or detonated by remote control.

A Pakistani driver and gunman were also injured in the attack, Lasi said.

The Chinese engineers were working on a seaport project in Gwadar which is partly aided by China.

He said the authorities had not found the remains of any bomber inside the white Suzuki car, adding only the skeleton of the car remained and the bus was heavily damaged with windows shattered and metal twisted.

Masood Baloch, a doctor in Gwadar hospital, confirmed the death of three people. He said four of the injured were in critical condition and have been shifted to Karachi by plane. He said all the injured except two are foreigners.

This is perhaps the first time in Pakistan that Chinese were targeted. China is Pakistan's most important ally and its chief trading partner.

The attack resembled a car bomb attack on May 8, 2002 in which Pakistani militants attacked a bus carrying French engineers outside the Sheraton hotel in Karachi, killing 11 of them. The French had been helping the Pakistani armed forces develop a submarine.