Strategy being crafted for protection of Chinese

Interior minister says Sino-Pak ties won't be held hostage by terrorists

ISLAMABAD:

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong and diplomatic staff called on Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and discussed the overall regional situation, besides bilateral ties, on Sunday.

During the discussion, Rashid observed that Pakistan would not let bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China and progress become hostage at the hands of terrorists.

The minister observed that the region had gained more specific significance than before. He emphasised that lasting stability in Afghanistan was imperative for the region's progress and the world's security.

The minister further stated that Pakistan would continue to play its role for peace and a stable government in the neighbouring country.

The interior ministry, he maintained, had been providing full assistance to those evacuating Afghanistan.

Speaking of security for Chinese nationals in the wake of recent incidents, Rashid said, "We will further improve security for the Chinese citizens and [staff of] Chinese companies operating in Pakistan."

"We are devising a joint strategy for the protection of the Chinese citizens," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Rong observed that the Chinese companies had been working on various projects in Pakistan.

He asked for making the security protocols for the citizens and the companies more stringent.

Earlier, the Chinese embassy strongly condemned Friday’s suicide attack on a motorcade of Chinese personnel in the port city of Gwadar and demanded of the Pakistani authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and “severely punish the perpetrators”.

In a statement, the embassy urged the authorities at all levels to take effective measures to strengthen the security of the Chinese citizens in Pakistan and upgrade security cooperation mechanism to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

On Friday, a suicide bomber targeted a motorcade carrying Chinese personnel at the Gwadar East Bay Expressway project in Balochistan, killing two children and injuring several others. At least one Chinese national was among the injured, the embassy said.