Separate bomb attacks kill 34 in Pakistan

Nov. 23 (UPI) -- At least 34 people are dead after insurgents carried out several attacks in Pakistan.

In one attack, insurgents stormed the Chinese consulate in Karachi and detonated suicide bombs, killing themselves and four other people. Two of the four victims were uniformed police officers, CNN reported. The other two were Pakistani visa seekers.

No Chinese nationals were killed in the attack.

"Our Chinese friends and officials -- around 21 people -- are all safe," Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters.

The Baluch Liberation Army, a separatist group based in the southwestern province of Baluchistan that has been at war with Pakistan since 2004, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bombings were followed by a firefight between police and insurgents, but no additional deaths were reported.

Hours after the attack on the Chinese embassy, a bomb detonated in a crowded market in Pakistan's northwestern Orakzai region. At least 30 people were killed and 40 more were wounded.

According to Voice of America, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attacks and denounced them as "part of [a] conspiracy" against Pakistan's "economic and strategic cooperation" with China.

The Chinese embassy also denounced the attacks and affirmed its economic relationship with Pakistan.

"We appreciate the Pakistani army and police for their timely and proper action against the attack. We extend our deep condolences to the two Pakistani policemen martyred in the attack. Any attempt to undermine China-Pakistan relationship is doomed to fail," the Chinese embassy said in a statement.