In the wake of continuing attacks on Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan, China conveyed strong displeasure to visiting Pakistan army chief Asim Munir and pressed him to take action against anti-China groups on its soil.
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Confident from his visit to Washington DC, Pakistani army chief Asim Munir would have thought of having a victory lap in Beijing. Instead, he received a dressing down from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over continuing attacks on Chinese nationals and businesses in Pakistan.
In recent years, armed groups in Pakistan, such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have mounted several attacks on Chinese projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Chinese nationals living in the country. China has repeatedly called Pakistan to rein in such groups, but the regime has failed to prevent such attacks — Pakistan has failed to prevent attacks against its own personnel as well.
Wang told Munir on Thursday that it is his hope that “the Pakistani military will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan”, according to a readout carried by state-owned Xinhua news agency.
Even as the two countries mentioned the usual cliches of being iron-clad brothers with an all-weather relationship, Wang’s tone in repeated statements made it clear that the Communist Party is not pleased with the state of affairs in Pakistan.
After all, the Gwadar port, described as the crown jewel of the CPEC, which itself is central to Xi Jinping’s brainchild Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has failed to take off even after billions of dollars of investment over the past decade.
China pulls up Munir over attacks
On his part, Munir sought to reassure China about the security of its interest in Pakistan.
Over the past year, Pakistan has gone to extraordinary length to secure Chinese interests in the country, allowing private Chinese security companies to be deployed in the country to secure Chinese nationals and projects under CPEC and other contracts.
Munir told Wang that the “Pakistani military will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions within its territory”, according to the readout.
Attacks on CPEC, Chinese workers, and projects with Chinese involvement are one of the major reasons behind the failure of CPEC. Even though CPEC’s Gwadar port is the largest in the country, it accounts for just 2 per cent of the country’s cargo transit.
In the Balochistan province, where China has built the Gwadar port and other projects under CPEC, Baloch groups have been waging a self-determination movement for decades against what they say is the occupation of their land and systemic oppression by the Pakistani regime. Baloch armed groups have often targeted Pakistani soldiers, police, and government personnel and facilities. They have also attacked Chinese nationals and projects as they see their presence as an extension of the Pakistani occupation and oppression.
Chinese workers and projects have also been attacked as they are seen as an extension of the Pakistan regime.
In March 2022, five Chinese nationals were killed in a string of bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. In April that year, three Chinese nationals were among the dead when a bombing targeted a van of a Chinese language centre in Karachi. In October 2024, two Chinese workers were killed in an attack on a convoy of Chinese workers.