The Foreign Ministry has been attempting to ascertain what happened to two Chinese nationals kidnapped in Pakistan after the ISIL-affiliated Amaq news agency reported yesterday they had been killed. 

Pakistan informed China's Foreign Ministry that the two citizens kidnapped in the southwest of the country may have been killed. The ministry said it had been working with Pakistani authorities. 

The two Chinese nationals, working as teachers in Pakistan, were kidnapped in southwestern Baluchistan province last month. 

Amaq issued a statement yesterday saying, "ISIL fighters killed two Chinese people they had been holding in Baluchistan Province, southwest Pakistan."

CGTN Photo

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China was aware of the announcement and had serious concerns over the alleged incident. 

The identities of the Chinese nationals have not been released although Hua said that according to initial investigations they are not a couple and come from different provinces.  

Hua reiterated China’s opposition to any form of terrorism, saying the country will continue to strengthen cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative to provide a safe environment for Chinese workers in the region.

(CGTN's Cui Huiao also contributed to this story.)