Security for Chinese in Pakistan: China wants joint action against terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Raising security concerns publicly, China has hoped for improved safety and security of its nationals working in Pakistan, emphasizing that both the countries could crack down on these terrorists jointly.

“We could crack down on these terrorists jointly. China wants to see steps against perpetrators of terrorist attacks and all those involved in such attacks could be penalised. It is unacceptable for China and we do hope that the Pakistani side will ensure the safety and security of its nationals working in Pakistan,” Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong stated while addressing an international conference on “China at 75: A Journey of Progress, Transformation and Leadership” organized by the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) here on Tuesday.

Soon after publicly expressing his concerns, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar responded and assured the Chinese ambassador that no stone would remain unturned to ensure the security of Chinese nationals.

He said that he would soon visit China along with President Asif Ali Zardari to participate in a dialogue to be arranged by the Chinese president in early November. They would share the exact details on how the government took action and brought perpetrators of terrorist attacks under the law of the land. Many of them had already been apprehended. He said that he could not share all the details publicly.

It was unusual that the Chinese ambassador assumed the rostrum again when Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar concluded his one-hour speech, in which he dwelt upon various issues resulting in a deteriorated and compromising security environment in the country.

Dar said that Pakistan was the only exception in the globe whereby the Chinese government continued to work on its projects despite rendering loss of precious lives of its nationals. Without naming (former ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed), he said that someone went to Kabul and came up with a picture of a cup of tea and released 102 hardcore criminals in the name of ‘reconciliation’. The borders are porous along with Afghanistan, resulting in sneaking of 35,000 to 45,000 Taliban into Pakistan. “Chinese are upset and we must accept our mistakes, but who will penalise those who are involved in such activities,” he said and added that there was a need to end such games, once and for all.

Dar termed China a super economic power. He said that Pakistan would firmly support the One-China Policy. Talking about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said that there was a total outstanding liability of $34 billion out of which the Government of Pakistan obtained $6 billion loan, including $3 billion for the construction of Multan-Sukkur motorway, and another $3 billion for Gwadar-related projects. All the remaining amount was related to investment/ debt of power-related projects. He said that Pakistan was committed to expanding CPEC-II.

He recalled how he had negotiated the F-16 deal with former US President Bill Clinton, saying that he contested for Pakistani assets forcefully. He said that he was waiting for the book by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayyed to narrate the whole episode.

Dar said the prime minister wrote a letter to the United States president to grant pardon to Aafia Siddiqui on humanitarian grounds. The first batch of Gaza students will be coming to Pakistan for medical education, he said.

Senator Mushahid said that China’s progress was unique on many counts as they implemented noninterfering policies and shared the vision of progress for all. The Belt and Road Initiative, he said, was launched and its flagship project was CPEC. Now CPEC would be taken forward under phase-II.