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China's Xi urges Pakistan to improve safety for Chinese workers

China urged Pakistan on Tuesday to improve security measures for Chinese nationals working in multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects funded by Beijing, which have repeatedly been attacked by militants.

Pakistan is a showcase of President Xi Jinping’s global Belt and Road Initiative, but the security threats facing Chinese workers have caused tension between the two close allies.

According to a report from the Chinese state-owned news agency Xinhua, "China supports Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, and hopes that Pakistan will take effective steps to ensure the security of Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects within Pakistan. This will create a safe environment for bilateral co-operation." Xi made the remarks at a meeting between him and Pakistan's Prime Minister during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, which is sponsored by China.

Xi hosted more than 20 leaders from non-Western nations in the Chinese port of Tianjin.

According to a statement released by the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Shaif, Sharif met Xi and did not discuss security issues.

In his statement, Sharif reaffirmed that he wanted to implement the Belt and Road project's next phase, and added, "This will help both countries create a stronger Pakistan-China Community with a Shared Future."

Pakistan has deployed tens-of-thousands of troops from the army, paramilitary forces and police to guard Chinese personnel and projects. Beijing is pushing Islamabad, which has resisted the pressure from Beijing to allow their own security personnel to operate within Pakistan.

The Pakistani foreign and interior ministries, as well as the Pakistani military, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Over the past decade, China has developed Gwadar in Pakistan and built roads, power plants and other infrastructure. Security concerns have led to the suspension of a large portion of the $60 billion Chinese Belt and Road Investment. Separatists and jihadists have both targeted Chinese personnel.

Separatists have also intensified attacks on Pakistani security forces over the past few months in this region.

A suicide bombing outside the Karachi airport killed two Chinese engineers late last year. In March 2024, the suicide bomber drove a vehicle through a convoy consisting of Chinese engineers who were working on a project to build a dam in northwest Pakistan. Five Chinese nationals as well as their Pakistani driver died.

The 2021 bombing of a bus in Dasu, where the dam is located, killed 13 people. Nine were Chinese.

Abdul Basit Senior Associate Fellow of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, stated that security had improved for Chinese nationals living in Pakistan. Since the bombing at the airport, there have been no more attacks.

Basit stated that Xi was highlighting that the situation in China is not good and that their projects aren't moving forward.

(source: Reuters)