China plans to deploy its troops in Pakistan for security of its nationals

In the wake of the rising number of terror attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, China has now signed a Private Security and Military Contract for the protection of its engineers and workers involved in various China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Pakistan.

China has assigned three of its private companies, namely Dewe Security Frontier Service Group, China Overseas Security Group and Huaxin Zhongshan Security Service for the joint security arrangements for safeguarding Chinese nationals in Pakistan.

There have been several attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan. The most recent attack occurred on October 6, when two Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide bombing by a Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) bomber, intensifying security concerns surrounding Chinese interests in Pakistan.

The intelligence reports also indicate that China is likely to deploy its own troops in Pakistan for the safety of its citizens involved in CPEC projects.

In response to China’s mounting security concerns, the Pakistani government has significantly increased its defence expenditure. In August, Pakistan allocated 60 billion rupees for "Operation Azm-E-Istekham" as part of its broader defence budget of 2.1 trillion rupees.

More recently, on the Chinese government’s behest, Pakistan approved an additional 90 billion rupees for the security of Chinese nationals and assets tied to CPEC phase two projects.

This comes on top of the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) approval of a 45-billion-rupee grant, of which 35.4 billion rupees will be directed to the military and 9.5 billion rupees to the navy.

As China ramps up pressure for improved security measures, it has proposed establishing a joint security company with Pakistan to protect its citizens working on CPEC.

This has sparked speculation about an increased Chinese footprint in regions like Balochistan where separatist militants have been actively targeting Chinese interests. Additionally, China has urged Pakistan to sign an agreement on anti-terrorism cooperation, raising questions about the possible official presence of Chinese troops in the country to safeguard its investments and personnel.

China has further suggested that new projects be included in CPEC phase two to bolster security. These proposals include vehicle-mounted mobile security equipment and ballistic protective vehicles to ensure that Chinese nationals can work safely in Pakistan.

With escalating tensions and continuous attacks, the possibility of Chinese troop deployment in Pakistan is becoming an increasingly plausible outcome, especially as Beijing seeks to protect its citizens and investments amidst the volatile security situation.

According to sources, both nations may soon formalise this partnership by signing an anti-terrorism cooperation agreement to address China’s growing security concerns.

China and Pakistan are also undertaking a joint anti-terrorist exercise Warrior-VIII in Pakistan that will continue till December 11.

Approximately 30,000 Chinese nationals are currently working on various CPEC projects in Pakistan. These include engineers, technicians, construction workers, and other professionals involved in infrastructure, energy, and development projects across the country.

The large presence of Chinese workers, especially in sensitive areas like Balochistan and Gwadar, has made their security a major concern, leading to increased collaboration between Pakistan and China to enhance protection measures for these personnel.