BEIJING/ISLAMABAD:
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced the establishment of a special protection unit in Islamabad to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, terming their safety as a top priority for Islamabad.
At 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 programs to enhance professional capacity and coordination at the operational level.
According to separate statements released by the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad and 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 during a three-and-a-half-hour 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 anti-terrorism cooperation, police training and institutional coordination and other issues.
The officials said both sides reached a 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 the future direction of cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to make joint and rapid response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective, and expand the scope of police training and exchange programs to improve professional capacity and coordination at the operational level.
Wang expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s security arrangements for Chinese citizens and development projects, thanking Naqvi and his team, while acknowledging Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and measures taken to strengthen internal security.
Naqvi briefed the Chinese side on Pakistan’s enhanced security protocol for Chinese citizens, terming their protection as a “top priority”, and said that a special protection unit was being established in Islamabad to further bolster the security of Chinese citizens and joint development initiatives.
The home minister welcomed Chinese cooperation in curbing cybercrime and said Pakistan sought support from Chinese institutions to strengthen the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Naqvi added that China’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology could significantly help Pakistan combat terrorism and emerging security threats. He stressed the importance of training-based exchanges and information sharing programs.
Pakistan and China share 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 signaling Beijing’s willingness to expand cooperation in security, law enforcement and institutional protection at all levels.
He said China is willing to work with Pakistan to implement the understanding reached between the leaders of both countries, intensify joint efforts against terrorism, telecommunication and online fraud, and jointly safeguard national security and social stability in both countries.
Among those present at the meeting were Vice Ministers Xu Datong and Yu Xiuhe, Beijing Deputy Mayor and Director-General of the Public Security Bureau Cen Yuanbiao, and senior officials from the departments of counterterrorism, international cooperation and general office.
On the Pakistani side, the meetings were attended by Home 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.
Chinese media later reported that both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in personnel, projects and institutional security, enhance law enforcement capacity building, and jointly address various risks and challenges, while contributing to a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future.
Naqvi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen security and law enforcement cooperation with China, including additional measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions operating across Pakistan.
