Pakistan sets up special protection unit for Chinese nationals amid CPEC security concerns

Pakistan sets up special protection unit for Chinese nationals amid CPEC security concerns

• Pakistan sets up Special Protection Unit to secure Chinese citizens in Islamabad
• SPU will protect Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects after recent attacks
• Pakistan, China to enhance counterterrorism, police training, cybercrime cooperation

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Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the establishment of a Special Protection Unit (SPU) in Islamabad dedicated to ensuring the security of Chinese citizens, describing their safety as a top priority for Pakistan.

Naqvi announced during a visit to the headquarters of China’s Ministry of Public Security, where he met Chinese Interior Minister Wang Xiaohong. The two ministers held a three-and-a-half-hour meeting discussing Pakistan-China relations, counterterrorism cooperation, police training exchanges, and other areas of mutual interest.

“We have taken strong measures at all levels to ensure the security of Chinese citizens and joint projects,” Naqvi said. “The protection of Chinese citizens and projects of mutual interest remains our top priority.”

The SPU, headquartered in Islamabad, will be tasked exclusively with safeguarding Chinese nationals working on projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $60 billion flagship initiative under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The unit comes after repeated attacks targeting Chinese workers, including a March 2024 suicide bombing in Shangla that killed five engineers and a driver, and a 2021 attack on a bus carrying Chinese workers to the Dasu hydropower project.

During the meeting, Wang expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and security measures. “We appreciate Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism,” he said, praising Islamabad’s efforts to protect Chinese personnel.

Both ministers agreed to strengthen coordination, including establishing a joint rapid response system against terrorism and crime, holding annual ministerial meetings, and convening joint working group sessions every three months. They also discussed enhancing police training and professional skills, as well as exchanging information between security institutions.

Naqvi highlighted the potential role of Chinese technology in bolstering Pakistan’s cybercrime and counterterrorism capabilities. “Pakistan wants to benefit from the support of Chinese institutions to enhance the capacity of the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA),” he said, noting that AI-based Chinese technologies could help address security challenges.

The announcement follows ongoing pressure from Beijing over CPEC delays and security lapses, particularly in Balochistan, where key projects such as Gwadar Port and Gwadar Airport remain largely non-functional despite years of investment. Analysts say the SPU reflects Pakistan’s acknowledgment of these security gaps and a move to reassure China about the safety of its personnel and assets.

Naqvi and Wang also discussed broader regional security concerns, including terrorism threats emanating from Afghanistan, and agreed to intensify cooperation against cybercrime and terrorism. Wang invited Naqvi to attend the Global Security Cooperation Forum in China this September, while Naqvi extended an invitation to Wang to visit Pakistan.

The SPU is part of a broader strategy to safeguard Chinese nationals and projects amid repeated militant threats targeting personnel involved in CPEC, highlighting the importance of Pakistan-China security cooperation in the region.

(With agency inputs)