Pakistan Promises China Special Security Unit For CPEC Engineers After Repeated Attacks

Last Updated:January 07, 2026, 21:53 IST

Pakistan establishes Special Protection Unit in Islamabad to safeguard Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects.

Pakistan establishes Special Protection Unit in Islamabad to safeguard Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects. (Image: AFP/File)

Pakistan on Wednesday announced the establishment of a Special Protection Unit (SPU) to provide dedicated security to thousands of Chinese nationals working on projects linked to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), amid repeated attacks targeting Chinese workers in the country.

The announcement was made by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during his visit to Beijing, where he met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Xiaohong, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry. Naqvi said the SPU would be headquartered in Islamabad and tasked exclusively with protecting Chinese citizens working across Pakistan.

Pakistan’s move comes against the backdrop of a series of deadly attacks on Chinese nationals in recent years, which have raised serious concerns in Beijing over the safety of its citizens and investments. In March 2024, five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed in a suicide bombing in Shangla district while travelling to a hydropower project. Earlier, in 2021, a suicide attack on a bus carrying Chinese workers to the Dasu hydropower project killed 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals. Chinese workers have also been targeted in attacks in Karachi and Gwadar, often claimed by militant groups opposed to CPEC.

Security for Chinese nationals has become a major strain in Pakistan–China relations, with Beijing repeatedly urging Islamabad to take stronger measures. During his meeting with Naqvi, Wang said China was ready to work closely with Pakistan to implement the consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, strengthen security cooperation, and intensify action against terrorism, as well as telecommunications and online fraud, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

CPEC, a flagship component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, involves billions of dollars in infrastructure and energy investments. Analysts say the creation of the SPU reflects Pakistan’s acknowledgement of persistent security lapses and an attempt to reassure China amid growing militant threats to its personnel and projects.

News world Pakistan Promises China Special Security Unit For CPEC Engineers After Repeated Attacks

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