ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China agreed on Friday to establish a joint working group on border management and security and accelerate an agreement to streamline immigration procedures, as the two countries deepen cooperation against illegal migration and cross-border crime.
The agreements were reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a delegation led by Qi Jingyang, director general of China’s National Immigration Administration, according to a statement issued by the interior ministry.
“The Pakistan government is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against illegal immigration, illegal border crossings and smuggling,” Naqvi said, adding that authorities were taking indiscriminate action against all those involved in such crimes.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen joint efforts against illegal immigration, arms smuggling and cross-border crime, while expanding cooperation on immigration, border management and institutional capacity.
Naqvi said Pakistan would establish a new Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts checkpoint at the Khunjerab Pass, the main land border crossing between Pakistan and China, to further strengthen border security.
China’s delegation welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to curb illegal border crossings and smuggling.
“China and Pakistan are strategic partners, and we want to further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan,” Qi said, adding that Beijing would continue supporting the capacity building of Pakistani institutions.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong said Pakistani police officers would travel to China for training later this month, while Chinese instructors were already providing Chinese-language training to personnel of Pakistan’s Special Protection Unit, which is responsible for safeguarding Chinese nationals and projects in the country.
