According to several sources with direct knowledge of the sensitive negotiations, Pakistan has not yet agreed to the Chinese demand to deploy Chinese security forces in the country
News Desk
BEIJING: Beijing has been pressing Pakistan to allow Chinese security personnel to protect the thousands of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, especially after a deadly car bombing in Karachi that targeted Chinese engineers. This attack, which killed two engineers returning from a holiday in Thailand, was the latest in a series of violent incidents affecting Chinese interests in Pakistan. These attacks, along with Pakistan’s failure to prevent them, have led to growing frustration in Beijing, which has called for formal talks on establishing a joint security management system between the two nations.
According to several sources with direct knowledge of the sensitive negotiations, Pakistan has not yet agreed to the Chinese demand to deploy Chinese security forces in the country. However, a written proposal sent by Beijing to Islamabad reportedly includes a clause that would allow both countries to dispatch security agencies and military forces into each other’s territory to assist with counterterrorism efforts and joint operations. The clause suggests that such deployments would occur after discussions between both parties, but Pakistani security officials have shown reluctance toward the proposal, expressing concerns over the sovereignty and control of such operations.
Despite this, both sides have expressed a willingness to create a joint security management system, with Pakistan open to the idea of Chinese officials participating in security meetings and coordination. However, Pakistan has resisted allowing Chinese personnel to be directly involved in on-the-ground security operations. Instead, Pakistan has requested China’s help in enhancing its intelligence and surveillance capabilities to better protect Chinese workers and assets without direct Chinese intervention.
The Chinese government has not officially confirmed the details of the security talks, but a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry stated that China would continue to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals and projects. In response, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry indicated that both countries had agreed to develop a joint strategy to prevent future attacks, but the specifics of the arrangements remain under discussion.
