Special unit in Islamabad to protect Chinese citizens
Photo: Express
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced the establishment of a special protection unit in Islamabad to ensure the security of Chinese citizens, calling their safety a top priority for Islamabad.
In a meeting in Beijing, Pakistan and China agreed to make joint and rapid-response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective, and expand the scope of police-training and exchange programmes to enhance professional capability and improve coordination at operational level.
According separate statements released by the Interior Ministry in Islamabad and the China's Ministry of Public Security in Beijing, both sides also agreed to enhance law-enforcement capacity building, and jointly address various risks and challenges.
The consensus was reached between a three-and-a-half-hour long meeting on security cooperation and law-enforcement coordination between Interior Minister Naqvi and his Chinese counterpart Wang Xiaohong.
Naqvi, currently in China, visited the Ministry of Public Security, where he was warmly received by Chinese Minister Wang Xiaohong and senior officials. During the talks, they discussed counterterrorism cooperation, police-training and institutional coordination and other issues.
Officials said that both sides reached consensus on holding a Joint Working Group meeting every three months, while the interior ministers of the two countries will meet once a year to review progress and set future direction for cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to make joint and rapid-response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective, and to expand the scope of police-training and exchange programmes to enhance professional capability and improve coordination at operational level.
Wang expressed satisfaction over Pakistan's security arrangements for Chinese nationals and development projects, thanking Naqvi and his team, while acknowledging Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and the measures taken to strengthen internal security.
Naqvi briefed the Chinese side on Pakistan's enhanced security protocol for Chinese nationals, terming their protection a "top priority", and said a special protection unit was being established in Islamabad to further reinforce security for Chinese citizens and joint development initiatives.
The interior minister welcomed Chinese cooperation to curb cybercrime and said Pakistan sought support from Chinese institutions to strengthen the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Naqvi added that China's artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology could significantly assist Pakistan in tackling terrorism and emerging security threats. He underscored the importance of training-based exchanges and information-sharing programmes.
Pakistan and China shared an "unbreakable bond," Naqvi said, while extending an invitation to his Chinese counterpart to visit Pakistan. He also conveyed goodwill messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Chinese leadership.
Wang invited Naqvi to attend the Global Security Cooperation Forum in China in September, reaffirming that China and Pakistan were strategic partners and noting Beijing's willingness to expand cooperation in security, law-enforcement and institutional protection at all levels.
He said that China was ready to work with Pakistan to implement the understanding reached between both countries' leaders, intensify joint efforts against terrorism, telecom and online fraud, and jointly safeguard national security and social stability in both countries.
those present in the meeting included vice ministers Xu Datong and Yu Xiuhe, Beijing Deputy Mayor and Director General of the Public Security Bureau Cen Yuanbiao, and senior officers from the counterterrorism, international cooperation and general office departments.
From the Pakistani side, Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, National Police Academy chief Muhammad Idrees, NCCIA Chief Syed Khurram Ali, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Islamabad police chief Ali Nasir Rizvi attended the meetings.
Chinese media later reported that both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in personnel, project and institutional security, enhance law-enforcement capacity building, and jointly address various risks and challenges while contributing to a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
Naqvi reiterated Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening security and law-enforcement cooperation with China, including additional measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions operating across Pakistan.