Pakistan and China have signed an agreement to protect Chinese
nationals from extremists' attacks in Pakistan.
The agreement acquires special significance because some Chinese
nationals were recently targeted by extremist organizations.
A joint task force of senior Pakistani Interior and Foreign
Ministry officials and Chinese diplomats in Pakistan will be set up
to ensure greater security for Chinese nationals.
The task force will meet once a month to discuss the security
situation and to review the progress of the investigation into
recent attacks.
Pakistani Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah and Chinese
Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui signed the agreement on behalf
of their respective countries on Monday.
"The agreement will give us leverage for a quick response to any
security issue that poses a threat to the lives of Chinese
nationals," a local press report quoted the Pakistani Interior
Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao as saying.
The two sides have been able to resolve most of the cases. The
Pakistani government will ensure that such an incident doesn't
recur, Sherpao said.
"Attacks against Chinese nationals are increasing because they
are among the largest foreign investors and constructors in
Pakistan. We enjoy friendly relations with that country," said Fu
Xiaoqiang, a researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary
International Relations.
Extremists and separatist forces opposed to the country's
economic policies carry out indirect attacks against the Pakistani
government, he said.
The new agreement will strengthen bilateral communication, help
reduce casualties and even prevent some attacks through early
warnings, Fu said.
Three Chinese nationals were killed in Pakistan's northwestern
city of Peshawar on July 8. Eleven days later, a suicide bomber
attacked a group of Chinese engineers in Baluchistan, a region in
southwestern Pakistan.
The attack killed about 30 people, including policemen. The
Chinese nationals escaped unhurt.
In June, some radical Islamic students abducted several Chinese
women, but released later them.
China has urged Pakistan to strengthen security measures to
protect the approximately 3,000 Chinese living and working in
Pakistan.
(Agencies via China Daily August 8, 2007)
