China sounds alarm on terror wave in Balochistan, KP; demands tighter protection for its citizens and CPEC projects

At the 6th round of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad, Beijing made its concerns loud and clear, asking Pakistan to step up security for Chinese nationals and projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to sources quoted by CNN-News18, Chinese officials raised alarm over a new surge in terrorism, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These regions have seen repeated attacks targeting Chinese workers and CPEC sites, stalling progress on multi-billion-dollar projects.

Beijing’s core demand at the dialogue was the speedy completion of delayed CPEC ventures. It pressed Islamabad to provide “iron-clad” protection for its citizens and assets. Pakistan, in turn, pledged full commitment to safeguarding Chinese interests, reiterating that it would not let terrorism derail the strategic partnership.

The two sides also mapped out the next phase of CPEC, dubbed “Phase 2.0.” Unlike the first stage, which focused mainly on infrastructure, this phase will expand cooperation into trade, agriculture, mining, and other new sectors.

Beyond CPEC, the dialogue touched on strengthening trade ties, expanding multilateral cooperation, and deepening people-to-people exchanges. Both countries once again framed their relationship as an “all-weather strategic partnership,” stressing shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday pledged deeper cooperation with Pakistan in industry, agriculture, and mining, vowing to keep Islamabad at the “centre” of Beijing’s regional diplomacy. In talks with Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Wang repeated China’s long-standing promise of backing Pakistan’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity and fight against terrorism.”

Beijing also called for upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while urging both nations to unite against what Wang termed “unilateral bullying” — an unmistakable swipe at India and the West.

What makes the timing more telling is Wang Yi’s itinerary: his stop in Islamabad comes after visits to New Delhi and Kabul, underlining China’s attempt to play all sides while keeping Pakistan firmly in its orbit. Notably, this reassurance to Islamabad comes barely three months after China was found supplying weaponry to Pakistan during the May 7–10 conflict — a move that directly undermined regional stability and India’s security.