China’s top anti-espionage agency, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), has stepped up to enhance early warning and anti-terrorism intelligence sharing in response to a recent deadly attack against Chinese nationals in Pakistan. According to Chinese state media, the Ministry stressed that combating terrorism is a “shared responsibility of the international community and a pressing priority.”
Pakistan has been dealing with terrorism and extreme nationalism, facing frequent attacks that threaten public safety and regional stability. It also states that the MSS strongly opposes all forms of terrorism and is committed to supporting Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts while working to prevent any attempts to undermine Sino-Pakistani relations, according to the report.
China’s national security agencies stated that they would use stricter measures and legal methods to combat violent and terrorist activities. They aim to prevent foreign terrorist activities from spreading into domestic territory and to protect against the infiltration of extremist violent ideologies into the country.
“In regions concentrated with overseas interests, efforts will be made to enhance early warning systems for terrorist attack risks, strengthen emergency response to sudden incidents, and effectively protect the safety of overseas citizens, organisations and projects,” the MSS said.
China stated it would use a “multifaceted” approach to counterterrorism, enhance international cooperation against terrorism, and improve mechanisms for sharing anti-terrorism intelligence, financial regulation, law enforcement cooperation, and judicial assistance.
The statement came three days after a deadly attack was launched against Chinese nationals in Karachi by the separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The attack, involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, claimed the lives of two Chinese nationals and injured several others near Jinnah International Airport on Sunday night. The Chinese government expressed “shock” and condemnation, urging Pakistan to enhance security measures and investigate thoroughly to ensure accountability.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a thorough investigation would be conducted to apprehend those responsible, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to protecting Chinese nationals and infrastructure projects.
The recent incident has raised concerns about the safety of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative aims to improve connectivity between China and the Arabian Sea. However, Pakistan is facing challenges due to its unstable security environment, especially in its Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan has advised Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These areas have experienced increased attacks targeting Chinese personnel and projects, which are crucial for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure developments.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has escalated its attacks on Chinese-associated projects, including a deadly assault on the Chinese consulate in Karachi in 2018 and multiple suicide bombings. The BLA alleges that Beijing is exploiting local resources in collaboration with the Pakistani government.
The recent attack happened just before the eagerly anticipated summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad. The summit is expected to bring together high-level delegations and heads of state from China, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, and other member nations of the regional security alliance.
Ravi Shankar
