China says working with Pakistan to verify its nationals' antecedents

Islamic State has killed two Chinese teachers in kidnapped from Pakistan's Balochistan in May, reported the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency.

Armed men dressed as police had abducted the two from provincial capital Quetta on May 24.

Balochistan said it is working to confirm "whether the report is true". Beijing said it is "gravely concerned", and is "working with Pakistani authorities" to verify the information.

Terrorist attacks in Pakistan might hit Chinese involvement in bilateral projects; it has pledged $57 bn for its "Belt and Road" program.

In Balochistan, Beijing is working on a new port. The number of Pakistanis studying mandarin has also jumped since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was signed in 2014.

Another fear for China is Islamic terrorists linking with separatists in Xinjiang.

After the kidnap-murder of two Chinese teachers in Pakistan by the IS, Islamabad has now said both 'teachers' were "engaged in evangelical activities".

Pakistani media quoted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar as saying that though Islamabad owes security to its visitors, the latter are "equally bound to abide by the terms and conditions of their visas".

It is likely to annoy Beijing and hit relations.

China said it is cooperating with Pakistan to determine if its two nationals murdered in Balochistan were acting in violation of local norms.

Islamabad earlier accused Lee Zingyang and Meng Lisi of being involved with a South Korean missionary group. SKorea has denied the allegations.

Beijing said it is working to verify their histories, as well as of 11 others still in Balochistan.