Pakistan has decided to establish a special protection unit in Islamabad dedicated to ensuring the security of Chinese citizens, as part of broader efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and internal security coordination between Pakistan and China.
The announcement was made by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during his visit to the headquarters of China’s Ministry of Public Security in Beijing, where he held a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with Chinese Interior Minister Wang Xiaohong.
According to an official statement, the two sides held in-depth discussions on counter-terrorism cooperation, rapid response mechanisms, police training exchange programmes, and institutional coordination between law enforcement agencies of both countries.
Joint Working Group to Meet Quarterly
Both ministers agreed that the Pakistan-China Joint Working Group on Internal Security will meet every three months, while interior ministers from both countries will hold annual meetings to review progress and enhance cooperation.
They also agreed to further strengthen the joint rapid response system against terrorism and organised crime, with a particular focus on the protection of Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan.
“The protection of Chinese citizens and projects of mutual interest remains our top priority,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said during the meeting.
Focus on Police Training and Capacity Building
The meeting also resulted in an agreement to expand the scope of police training exchange programmes, with both sides adopting a joint strategy to enhance professional skills and operational capacity of police and security personnel.
Matters related to Islamabad–Beijing sister city cooperation were also discussed as part of broader institutional collaboration.
Chinese Interior Minister Wang Xiaohong expressed satisfaction over the security measures already in place for Chinese citizens and projects in Pakistan, praising Islamabad’s counter-terrorism efforts and internal security initiatives.
He said that China highly values Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, adding that Beijing views these efforts with great respect.
CPEC Security a Priority
Interior Minister Naqvi highlighted that, in light of the expanding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the protection of Chinese nationals had gained even greater importance.
He said directives had been issued to ensure priority facilitation for Chinese citizens at all Pakistani airports, particularly during arrival and departure.
Naqvi also emphasised that Pakistan and China share a bond based on “sustainable cooperation”, expressing Islamabad’s desire to further expand collaboration to address emerging security challenges and safeguard shared interests.
High-Level Delegations Present
Senior Chinese officials present at the meeting included Vice Ministers Xu Datong and Yu Xiuhe, Beijing Deputy Mayor and Director General of the Beijing Public Security Bureau Cen Yuanbiao, and senior officials from China’s counter-terrorism and international cooperation departments.
The Pakistani delegation included Federal Secretary Interior Khurram Agha, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, DG National Police Academy Muhammad Idrees, DG National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency Syed Khurram Ali, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa, and Islamabad Police IG Ali Nasir Rizvi.
