Two Chinese hostages who were kidnapped in Pakistan last month have been killed, Reuters reports.
The Islamic State (IS) was said to have killed two Chinese teachers kidnapped in southwestern Baluchistan Province, according to the group's news agency, Amaq.
A government spokesman from Baluchistan said that authorities are still confirming whether or not the reports are true.
The two Chinese-language teachers were taken by gunmen disguised as police in Jinnah, Quetta City. Three teachers, all Chinese citizens, were initially intercepted by three people in a white car while leaving a language center. While being forced into the vehicle at gunpoint, one of the teachers — a woman — was able to escape when their attackers fired warning shots in the air. But the other two, a man and a woman who were said to be a couple, were unable to escape.
A soldier near the site where the kidnapping took place.
Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying responded to the reports of the killings, saying:
"We have taken note of relevant reports and we express our grave concern. We have been trying to rescue the two kidnapped hostages over the past days.
"The Chinese side is working to learn about and verify relevant information through various channels, including working with Pakistani authorities.
"China is against any act of kidnapping of civilians and opposes terrorism and extreme violence in any form."
While IS has struggled to establish presence in Pakistan, it has claimed responsibility for several major attacks in Baluchistan, including one last month that killed 25 people.
[Images via China Daily, People's Daily]
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