Pakistan and China are in ongoing talks on security measures to protect Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Islamabad’s ambassador to Beijing said on Wednesday.
Chinese nationals have been in the crosshairs of separatist militants who believe Beijing is helping Pakistan exploit minerals in the underdeveloped southwestern province of Balochistan, where China has a strategic port and mining interests.
‘National Responsibility’
It is Pakistan’s “national responsibility” and the country is “doing everything possible”, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi told reporters at the sidelines of the Boao Forum in China’s Hainan province.
“I think our two countries work very closely in terms of information sharing, in terms of developing the standard operating procedures” to ensure Chinese nationals working in Pakistan are safe, he said.
“We keep our Chinese friends informed of the steps that we are taking, so it’s a work in progress.”
China’s Own Security Staff
Beijing has been pushing Pakistan to allow its own security staff to provide protection to thousands of Chinese citizens working there, frustrated by the string of attacks on its citizens.
The push came after a bombing at the Karachi airport last October killed two Chinese engineers who were returning there to work at a power plant.
Hashmi said those talks are ongoing, with a high degree of trust between both countries.
“It’s a complex security environment,” he said, “We have the capability to resolve, to counter and combat and defeat these terrorist forces.”
Attacks On Chinese Nationals
Attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan have raised concerns over the security of Chinese workers and investments in the country.
As China continues to fund major infrastructure projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), militant groups have increasingly targeted Chinese nationals, viewing them as symbols of foreign influence.
Recent incidents, including bombings and armed assaults, have underscored the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
The Pakistani government has pledged to strengthen protection, deploying special security forces and increasing intelligence efforts.
However, persistent threats risk straining bilateral relations and potentially impacting future Chinese investments in Pakistan’s economic and development projects.
(With inputs from Reuters)
