BEIJING/ISLAMABAD:
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced the establishment of a special protection unit in Islamabad to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens, terming their security a top priority for Islamabad.
At a meeting in Beijing, Pakistan and China agreed to make joint rapid response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective, and expand the scope of police training and exchange programs to strengthen professional capabilities and improve coordination at the operational level.
According to separate statements issued by the Interior Ministry in Islamabad and China’s Ministry of Public Security in Beijing, the two sides also agreed to strengthen law enforcement capabilities 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 welcomed by Chinese Minister Wang Xiaohong and senior officials. During the talks, they discussed counterterrorism cooperation, police training and institutional coordination, as well as other issues.
Officials said the two sides reached 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 assess progress and set the future direction of cooperation.
The two sides also agreed to make joint rapid response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective, and to expand the scope of police training and exchange programs to strengthen professional capacities and improve coordination at the operational level.
Wang expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s security arrangements for Chinese nationals and development projects, thanking Naqvi and his team, while recognizing Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and steps taken to strengthen internal security.
Naqvi briefed the Chinese side on Pakistan’s enhanced security protocol for Chinese nationals, calling their protection a “top priority”, and said a special protection unit was being established in Islamabad to further strengthen the security of Chinese citizens and joint development initiatives.
The interior minister lauded Chinese cooperation in combating cybercrime and said Pakistan was seeking support from Chinese institutions to strengthen the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Naqvi added that Chinese technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) could significantly help Pakistan in combating terrorism and emerging security threats. He stressed the importance of training-based exchanges and information sharing programs.
Pakistan and China share an “indissoluble bond”, Naqvi said, while inviting his Chinese counterpart to visit Pakistan. He also conveyed goodwill messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Chinese leaders.
Wang invited Naqvi to participate in the Global Security Cooperation Forum in China in September, reaffirming that China and Pakistan are strategic partners and noting 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 agreement reached between the leaders of the two countries, intensify joint efforts against terrorism, telecommunications and online fraud, and jointly safeguard national security and social stability in the two 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, as well as senior officers from the counterterrorism, international cooperation and general office departments.
From the Pakistani side, Interior 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 attended the meetings.
Chinese media later reported that the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation on security of personnel, projects and institutions, strengthen law enforcement capabilities, and jointly face various risks and challenges, while contributing to a closer China-Pakistan community with a 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.
