Islamabad: China has deployed private security personnel in Pakistan for the first time to protect its projects and countries amid increasing terrorist attacks in the country. China has recently signed a contract for the security of its engineers and workers involved in various China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan. Under this contract, China's private security agencies have got approval to deploy their armed squads in Pakistan. Earlier, China had also deployed its private army in Myanmar.
China sends three companies to Pakistan
According to India Today report, China has appointed three of its private companies - Dewey Security Frontier Service Group, China Overseas Security Group and Huaxin Zhongshan Security Service - for joint security arrangements. In the first phase, 60 Chinese security forces have been deployed at two CPEC power projects in Sindh province. These personnel will monitor the Pakistani army engaged in security.
Deployment in Thar coal block
Under CPEC, about 6,500 Chinese citizens are working on two power projects in Thar coal block of Sindh province. According to intelligence reports, Chinese security personnel have been deployed in the first circle of Chinese citizens. This has been done so that Chinese citizens have minimal contact with outsiders. The security personnel will ensure the planned movement of workers. This plan will be shared with the Pakistani army deployed in the second security circle.
Pakistan was opposing the deployment of Chinese troops
China had earlier pressured Pakistan to deploy a unit of its People's Liberation Army (PLA) to protect its citizens. Pakistan initially rejected it, but signed the Joint Security Companies framework following Chinese pressure. Chinese security forces have been deployed in Pakistan under this framework. Apart from recent attacks by Baloch militants on Pakistani security forces, Chinese citizens have also been targeted in Pakistan in recent years.
Insurgents attacking Chinese citizens
The most recent attack took place on October 6, 2024, when two Chinese citizens were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by a Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacker. In response to China's security concerns, the Pakistan government has significantly increased its defense expenditure. Last year, Pakistan allocated Rs 60 billion for "Operation Azm-e-Istekham".
Pakistan increases security spending on CPEC
Recently, at the behest of China, Pakistan approved an additional Rs 90 billion for the security of Chinese citizens and assets associated with the CPEC Phase II projects. Around 30,000 Chinese nationals are currently working on various CPEC projects in Pakistan. Most of these Chinese workers work in sensitive areas like Balochistan and Gwadar.
