China-pakistan relations: China has deployed its private security agencies in Pakistan for the first time. This step has been taken to protect Chinese engineers and workers involved in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan. China has taken this decision amid growing terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

According to India Today reports, China has appointed its three major private security companies – the Deway Security Frontier Service Group, the China Overseas Security Group, and Huaxin Jhongshan Security Service – to provide security in Pakistan. In the first phase, 60 Chinese security personnel have been deployed in two CPEC power projects of Sindh province. The job of these security personnel will have to work under the supervision of the Pakistan Army for the safety of Chinese citizens.

Deployment of Chinese security forces
About 6,500 Chinese citizens are working in two power projects in Thar Coal Block of Sindh province. Chinese security forces have been deployed here so that Chinese citizens have less contact with outsiders and their safety can be ensured.

China put pressure on Pakistan
China had earlier pressured Pakistan to deploy its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to protect its citizens, which Pakistan had earlier rejected. However, after Chinese pressure, Pakistan eventually signed a joint security structure and under this Chinese private security forces were deployed.

Attack of Baloch terrorists and increasing security expenses
Recent attacks on Chinese citizens by rebel groups like Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Pakistan have also become the main reason for this decision. The most recent attack took place on 6 October 2024, in which two Chinese citizens were killed in a suicide bomb blast. Due to this, Pakistan has increased security expenditure on CPEC projects. Recently, Pakistan has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 90 billion for the protection of Chinese citizens. Currently around 30,000 Chinese citizens are working on various CPEC projects in Pakistan, most of which are deployed in sensitive areas such as Balochistan and Gwadar.