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, calling their safety a top priority for Islamabad.
At a meeting in Beijing, Pakistan and China agreed to make joint and rapid response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective and expand the scope of police training and exchange programs to increase professional capacity and improve coordination at the operational level.
According to separate statements released by the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad and China’s Ministry of Public Security in Beijing, both sides also agreed to strengthen law enforcement capacity building 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, who is currently in China, visited the Ministry of Public Security, where he was warmly received by Chinese Minister Wang Xiaohong and senior officials. During the talks, they discussed counter-terrorism cooperation, police training and institutional coordination and other issues.
Officials said both sides agreed to hold a joint working group meeting every three months, while interior ministers from the two countries meet once a year to review progress and determine the future direction of cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to make joint and rapid response mechanisms against terrorism and crime more effective and to expand the scope of police training and exchange programs to increase professional capacity and improve coordination at the operational level.
Expressing satisfaction over Pakistan’s security arrangements for Chinese nationals and development projects, Wang thanked Naqvi and his team while acknowledging Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and measures taken to strengthen internal security.
Briefing the Chinese side on Pakistan’s enhanced security protocol for Chinese nationals, Naqvi termed their protection a “top priority” and said a special protection unit was being established in Islamabad to further strengthen security for Chinese citizens and joint development initiatives.
Welcoming Chinese cooperation in curbing cybercrime, the interior minister said Pakistan was seeking support from Chinese institutions to strengthen the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Naqvi added that China’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology could significantly help Pakistan tackle terrorism and emerging security threats. He emphasized the importance of education-based exchanges and information exchange programs.
Pakistan and China shared an “unbreakable bond,” Naqvi said while extending an invitation to his Chinese counterpart to visit Pakistan. He also conveyed goodwill messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Chinese leadership.
Wang invited Naqvi to attend the Global Security Cooperation Forum in China in September, where he affirmed that China and Pakistan were strategic partners and noted Beijing’s willingness to expand cooperation in security, law enforcement and institutional protection at all levels.
He said China was ready to work with Pakistan to implement the understanding reached between the leaders of both countries, intensify joint efforts against terrorism, telecommunications and online fraud, and jointly ensure national security and social stability in both countries.
those present at the meeting included Vice Ministers Xu Datong and Yu Xiuhe, Beijing Vice Mayor and Director General of the Public Security Bureau Cen Yuanbiao, and senior officers from the Anti-Terrorism, International Cooperation and General Office Departments.
From the Pakistani side, Interior Minister 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 both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in personnel, project and institutional security, strengthen law enforcement capacity building, and jointly address 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 throughout Pakistan.
