Islamabad: Terming today's (May 3, 2004) car bomb attack on Chinese engineers at the strategic port of Gwader in North West Baluchistan province as terrorist attack, President General Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan would not allow a few terrorists to undermine its friendship and cooperation with China.

"The Government and people of Pakistan strongly condemn this barbaric act of terrorism and will never allow a few terrorists to undermine Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation," he said in a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"In fact, this most reprehensible act has further fortified our determination to intensify our efforts to defeat terrorism and extremism," he said in his letter, which was released to the media in Islamabad.

Musharraf also informed the Chinese leader that he had ordered an inquiry into the incident and assured him that those responsible would be meted out severest punishment.

Three Chinese engineers were killed and 11 others including nine Chinese were injured in the car bomb attack.

Musharraf also said he was deeply distressed and profoundly shocked over the loss of lives and injuries to Chinese engineers and project personnel in the attack today.

"We are also taking steps to guarantee the security of all Chinese nationals in Pakistan," he said and conveyed his condolences to the families of those killed in attack.

"We will do our utmost in providing every assistance and treatment to those injured," he said.