ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities are seeking to curb the movements of Chinese citizens during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting next week because of a security risk from militant groups targeting them, according to three security officials and an internal security note.
The decision came after two Chinese engineers were killed in a bombing near Pakistan’s Karachi international airport on Sunday. The suicide bombing was claimed by separatist militant group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
The meeting of the SCO, which comprises nine full members, including China, India, Iran and Russia, is scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16 in Islamabad. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is expected to arrive in the city prior to the meeting.
“Orders have been received from concerned authority that Chinese move of all types including intra-city/ inter-city/ airport etc to be ceased from 14 to 17 Oct 24 in connection with SCO summit and various delegations visit,” the security alert, shared with several Pakistani security agencies and seen by Reuters, said.
Three top security officials who received the alert said it had also been conveyed to Chinese authorities.
“All concerned to make sure that Chinese are conveyed it in advance so that important moves are adjusted before that. No violations will be accepted during this period,” the alert said.
The Chinese embassy in Islamabad and Pakistan’s interior ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The bombing was the latest in a string of attacks against Chinese nationals in Pakistan over the last four years, including a March suicide bombing that killed five Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project.
Beijing has called on Islamabad publicly to implement more stringent security measures.
BLA, the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that has fought the federal government for decades, targets Chinese interests — including the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea — as it accuses Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit local resources. It has previously killed Chinese citizens and attacked China’s consulate in Karachi.
The port development is part of Beijing’s $65 billion investment in road, rail and infrastructure building under President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The security officials said senior staff responsible for Chinese security in Karachi had been removed from service following the latest attack, which took place in a highly secure area.
Pakistan’s interior ministry is primarily responsible for the security of Chinese nationals and their interests.
“Let’s wait two, three days, things will be clear,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told a press conference in Islamabad when asked about the security lapse.
Separately, as part of SCO summit security arrangements, a foreign office letter requested diplomats and UN personnel residing in Islamabad to restrict their movements and remain confined to the Diplomatic Enclave and Red Zone areas during the conference days.
The Diplomatic Enclave houses foreign embassies and residents of diplomats working in Pakistan and is located inside the Red Zone, home to important government buildings like the Prime Minister House, President House, National Assembly and the Supreme Court.
“In this regard, it is advised that all diplomats may consider limiting their movements during this period [Oct. 15-16], both within and outside the city,” the ministry of foreign affairs said in a notification this week. “It is further advised that activities be confined primarily to the diplomatic enclave and Red Zone areas.”
The notice said the Pakistani government had put in place “heightened” security measures for the safety of incoming dignitaries and delegates to ensure the summit’s success, urging diplomatic missions to follow daily traffic updates.
“The Ministry appreciates the understanding and cooperation of all diplomatic missions ... and looks forward to their support in ensuring the success of this [SCO] event,” it added.
With inputs from Reuters
Pakistan to curb movement of Chinese nationals, diplomats during SCO summit
https://arab.news/p34ft
Pakistan to curb movement of Chinese nationals, diplomats during SCO summit
- Balochistan Liberation Army separatist group claimed responsibility for attack in Karachi in which two Chinese nationals killed
- Meeting of the SCO, which comprises nine full members including China, India, Iran, Russia, will take place in Islamabad on Oct. 15-16
Pakistan offers Kyrgyzstan Arabian Sea access as two states sign 15 cooperation accords
- Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan sign MOUs spanning trade, energy, agriculture, ports, education, security cooperation
- Kyrgyz president is on first visit to Pakistan in 20 years as both sides push connectivity and CASA-1000 power links
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday offered Kyrgyzstan the shortest and most economical route to the Arabian Sea as the two countries signed 15 agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at boosting cooperation across trade, energy, agriculture, education, customs data-sharing and port logistics.
The accords were signed during a visit to Islamabad by President Sadyr Zhaparov, the first by a Kyrgyz head of state to Pakistan in two decades, and part of Islamabad’s renewed push to link South Asia with landlocked Central Asian economies through ports, power corridors and transport routes.
For Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan offers access to hydropower through CASA-1000, a $1.2 billion regional electricity transmission project designed to carry surplus summer electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan. For Bishkek, Pakistan provides overland access to warm-water ports on the Arabian Sea, creating a shorter commercial route to global markets.
“President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to offer Kyrgyzstan the shortest and most economical route to the Arabian Sea,” Radio Pakistan reported after Zhaparov met the Pakistani president.
The two leaders also discussed expanding direct flights to deepen business, tourism and people-to-people ties.
Zardari welcomed Kyrgyzstan’s completion of its segment of the CASA-1000 project and “reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to completing its part of the project, which is now at an advanced stage,” the state broadcaster said.
Zhaparov thanked Islamabad for supporting Bishkek’s candidacy for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat and invited Zardari to visit Kyrgyzstan at a time of his convenience. Both sides expressed satisfaction with progress under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement, designed to facilitate road movement between Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China.
Earlier, both governments exchanged 15 sectoral cooperation documents covering commerce, mining, geosciences, power, agriculture, youth programs, the exchange of convicted persons, customs electronic data systems and a sister-city linkage between Islamabad and Bishkek.
According to APP, the MOUs were signed by ministers representing foreign affairs, commerce, economy, energy, power, railways, interior, culture, health and tourism. Agreements also covered cooperation between Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy and the Diplomatic Academy of Kyrgyzstan, as well as collaboration between universities, youth ministries and cultural institutions.
“Our present mutual trade, comprising of about $15–16 million will be enhanced to $200 million in the next two years,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said after the agreements were signed, calling them “a framework for structured, result-oriented engagement and closer institutional linkages.”
Sharif said Pakistan was ready to serve as a maritime outlet for the landlocked Central Asian republic, offering access to Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar to help Kyrgyz goods reach regional and global markets.
