Pakistan: As they rush to stop terrorist attacks that could risk Islamabad’s strategic relationship with Beijing, Karachi Police have resorted to temporarily closing some businesses run and frequented by Chinese nationals in the city, which is a humiliating development for “all-weather friends” China and Pakistan, according to reports.
China temporarily closed the consular department of its embassy in Islamabad
The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said that China temporarily closed the consular department of its embassy in Islamabad days after warning its residents to exercise caution due to the “deteriorating security situation” in Pakistan. It appears that Pakistani authorities have exhibited a lax approach towards protecting the lives of Chinese nationals living in Pakistan despite several pleas and warnings from Beijing. It’s interesting to note that some reports contend Islamabad is subtly urging Beijing to forgive Beijing’s sizable loan from China or extend deadlines in order to prevent the approaching default. Targets of various terrorist organisations based in Pakistan continue to include Chinese people and CPEC-related projects.
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State officials are not taking enough security precautions to protect Chinese nationals
Many Pakistanis believe China is quietly intruding on their territory while pretending to improve their economic status through business ventures, mining activities, and other financial initiatives. The local administration and security authorities are having a hard time containing the rising anti-China sentiments among the Pakistani community. State officials are not taking enough security precautions to protect Chinese nationals as a result. Notably, according to Business Standard, Pakistan cannot afford to fund another dedicated military unit to defend Chinese interests there.
Karachi police reportedly took action to seal up some Chinese firms
Bhutto-Zardari’s Sindh province, where Chinese nationals and enterprises are most at risk from militant groups, is under the control of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). In response to intelligence alerts warning of potential attacks in mid-March, the Karachi police reportedly took action to seal up some Chinese firms. The failure of the local and federal governments to offer sufficient security to Chinese companies operating in Karachi, Pakistan’s commercial hub, is a humiliating development. As separatist groups have broadened their targets outside Pakistani state institutions and individuals, Karachi has seen a number of attacks against Chinese nationals. A suicide explosion near the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi in April 2022 was one of the most prominent incidents, and it resulted in the deaths of three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver.
TTP-led suicide attack targeted a bus carrying engineers to a construction site
It is important to note that violent Islamic organisations like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-Khorasan (IS-K) have threatened to expel Chinese residents living in Pakistan and have attacked them as well, according to reports. This is in addition to ethnic separatist organisations. Nikkei Asia reported that in July 2021, a TTP-led suicide attack targeted a bus carrying engineers to a construction site close to a dam in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 13, including nine Chinese labourers. Pakistan later paid millions of dollars in compensation to the relatives of the killed Chinese nationals, adding to Islamabad’s financial burden. Chinese businesses and the government of Xi Jinping are concerned about the casualties among Chinese nationals in Pakistan. By severely impeding Chinese investments in Pakistan, these targeted attacks will exacerbate already existing friction between the two “brotherly” countries.
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Private Chinese security companies to operate in Pakistan
Pakistan has been under pressure from China to allow private Chinese security companies to operate there. However, the problem is unlikely to go away even if Pakistani authorities order some Chinese businesses to halt operations for their own safety.
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