Pakistan now trains police like soldiers to protect Chinese nationals: What it reveals about Islamabad's priorities

File Photo - Police personnel align before being deployed near a Red Zone area blocked with shipping containers to hinder a rally by members of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanding his release, in Islamabad on November 24, 2024.

Amid mounting attacks on Chinese citizens across Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a new security overhaul aimed at safeguarding Chinese nationals working in the country, especially those involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The latest measures underscore both Pakistan’s growing dependence on Beijing and its struggle to offer basic security even to its most critical foreign partners.

On Tuesday, Sharif chaired a meeting regarding security arrangements for Chinese citizens in Pakistan and announced that Pakistan’s police force will undergo military-grade training specifically to protect them.

This move comes after a surge in targeted attacks against Chinese nationals in volatile regions such as Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -- areas where CPEC-linked infrastructure projects are underway.

“The confidence of Chinese companies in the Pakistani economy is extremely important for our economic future,” Sharif said, vowing to make Pakistan a business-friendly destination for China.

A country scrambling for credibility

Sharif’s statement reflects more than just diplomatic courtesy: it is an open admission that Pakistan cannot currently guarantee the safety of Chinese citizens, despite branding China as its “all-weather friend.” With CPEC considered the crown jewel of Pakistan’s economic partnership with China, the killings of Chinese workers have not only embarrassed Islamabad but also triggered concerns in Beijing about the viability of long-term investments.

“China is our friendly country,” Sharif said. “It is a priority of the government to take care of any Chinese national residing in Pakistan.”

But Pakistan's “care” seems reactionary, not preemptive. Over the past few years, multiple high-profile attacks, including suicide bombings and shootings, have targeted Chinese engineers, teachers, and workers. According to data from Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), 14 terrorist attacks since 2021 have claimed the lives of at least 20 Chinese nationals, leaving 34 others injured.

What are the new measures?

To restore China’s trust and prevent further diplomatic strain, Sharif outlined the following steps:

• Military-level training for police forces to better protect Chinese workers.
• Special security protocols at all airports to facilitate smoother arrival and departure of Chinese citizens.
• Dedicated escort services for Chinese nationals during travel inside Pakistan.
• Deployment of “Safe City” infrastructure, as per Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, who stated that provinces are racing to set up surveillance-heavy zones aimed at ensuring foreigner safety.

Why the urgency now?

The urgency in Sharif’s tone may stem from recent attacks that have unsettled Beijing, including a suicide blast in March 2024 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed five Chinese engineers. These repeated incidents have forced China to raise the issue at the diplomatic level, with reports suggesting Beijing has pressed Islamabad for more concrete, measurable protections.

By rushing to announce upgraded training and security escorts, Islamabad appears to be engaging in damage control, hoping to prevent any slowdown in CPEC activities or a freeze in Chinese funding. But the fact that foreign nationals need military-grade protection to work in Pakistan paints a grim picture of the country's internal security apparatus.

A misplaced sense of urgency?

While Pakistani citizens in many provinces face daily threats from terrorism, sectarian violence, and lawlessness, the government’s sharp pivot to prioritise Chinese security raises troubling questions. Is the state willing to act only when foreign money is at risk?

The emphasis on CPEC and Chinese citizens’ safety has also exposed how dependent Pakistan has become on Chinese loans, investment, and political backing -- a dynamic that many in the region view as uncomfortably one-sided.