China-Pakistan Agreement to Establish ‘Chinese Security Outposts’ for CPEC

Islamabad/Beijing: Pakistan and China have reached a new understanding to bolster security along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Under the agreement, Pakistan will establish a special security unit dedicated to protecting Chinese citizens and CPEC projects, with training and strategic support provided by Chinese personnel.

The agreement follows growing tensions over the security of CPEC, especially in Balochistan, where separatist insurgents have repeatedly targeted Chinese engineers and infrastructure. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during a visit to Beijing, received stern warnings from Chinese authorities regarding the protection of CPEC projects and Chinese nationals. In response, Pakistan has now committed to forming a special protection unit as part of a comprehensive security framework.

A New Security Architecture Across Pakistan

The special unit will operate alongside existing military deployments and focus on safeguarding major urban and strategic locations, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Peshawar, Gwadar, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The initiative aims to create layered, locally integrated security measures that place Chinese citizens at the center of protection efforts.

China has insisted that Pakistan move beyond traditional military checkpoints and implement close-proximity security arrangements with advanced weaponry, intelligence sharing, and coordinated counter-terrorism mechanisms. The plan will also involve training of Pakistani police and closer collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese security agencies.

Government Assurances and Strategic Stakes

Following Chinese pressure, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured Chinese officials that Pakistan is taking stringent measures at all levels to address security gaps. China has invested approximately $60 billion in CPEC projects, and repeated attacks on Chinese nationals have drawn Beijing’s ire. Chinese authorities have made it clear that any attacks on their citizens will not be tolerated.

The move underscores the strategic importance of CPEC to both nations and reflects China’s insistence on a robust, multi-layered security apparatus in Pakistan to protect its massive investments and personnel.