China strongly condemned violent attacks against consular agencies and has requested Pakistan to take practical measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country, a Chinese official said Friday.

Paramilitary forces and policeman take cover behind a wall during an attack on the Chinese embassy, where blasts and shots are heard, in Karachi, Pakistan November 23, 2018. (Photos: VCG)

All staff working at China’s Consulate in Karachi and their families are safe, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at Friday's regular press conference.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang (Photo: fmprc.gov.cn)

When asked to provide details of the attack, Geng said that three militants attempted to break into the consulate. Two sides exchanged fire after the Pakistani police broke in, and all three militants were killed with two security guards killed in the crossfire. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences to the consulate, he said.

“We expressed our condolences to the Pakistani security personnel who lost their lives in the incident and condolences to their families and injured people,” Geng said.

Police officers take cover as they move during an attack on the Chinese consulate, where blasts and shots are heard, in Karachi, Pakistan November 23, 2018. 

At least 17 people were killed and 30 others injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest tribal region of Orakzai Agency on Friday, local Urdu TV channel Geo News reported.

The blast occurred at the main gate of a religious seminary in the lower part of Orakzai Agency, one of Pakistan's seven mountainous tribal regions near the Pakistani-Afghan border.

Rescue teams and security forces rushed to the blast site and the injured people have been transferred to the nearest hospital.

Several among the injured were in critical condition, according to hospital sources.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Cover image: Pakistani security personnel stand next to burned out vehicles in front of the Chinese consulate after an attack in Karachi on November 23, 2018.