Page 11 - The Indian EYE 041924

OPINION APRIL 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 11

public, however, China has declared
that any attempts to disrupt CPEC
projects will not succeed, and reaf-
firmed its ongoing support for Paki-
stan’s economic and social progress.
Islamabad has also assured Bei-
jing of its immediate action to bring
the perpetrators to justice. This in-
cludes the announcement of the es-
tablishment of a Joint Investigation
Team to delve into the incident and
an inquiry committee to review secu-
rity protocols for Chinese citizens in
the country and making “fool-proof”
security arrangements not only for
Dasu but all across Pakistan. Not
only did Prime Minister Sharif vis-
it the embassy to offer condolences
and promises of quick investigation,
but Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi
also briefed the Chinese investiga-
tors about Pakistan’s investigation
into the attacks.

However, Punjab Chief Minister
Maryam Nawaz has said that

Chinese residing in the country
are reluctant to adhere to secu-
rity protocols and do not want Despite the comprehensive security measures in place for CPEC projects, inputs indicate that Pakistan’s actual ability
to foil attacks is wanting (File photo)
to follow security discipline

(Tahir, 2024). It later emerged and insurgency-prone areas; gather- practice of doing this, for instance in of Chinese security forces or PSCs
ing and analyzing intelligence on po- places where Chinese investments operating in close proximity to Indian
through the probe that China tential threats to preempt and count- have faced security threats, such as territory, under the guise of protect-
Gezhouba Group Company- the er acts of sabotage or terrorism; and, Djibouti, Sudan, and South Sudan. ing Chinese interests, could exacer-
being ready to respond to any secu- Pakistan’s law generally forbids for- bate regional tensions and lead to an
company working on the site of rity incident or emergency affecting eign security firms. This policy fol- escalation of a military presence by
Dasu Hydropower project – did CPEC projects or workers. lowed a notable 2011 incident when both sides. This also implies that the
Despite the comprehensive se-
range of actors would expand to in-
a private contractor of the US CIA
not follow the Standard Operat- curity measures in place for CPEC shot two armed men in Lahore. clude non-state actors with unknown
ing Procedures (SoPs). projects, inputs indicate that Paki- However, Pakistan has made affiliations.
stan’s actual ability to foil attacks some exceptions for China. There
is wanting. For instance, after the are three Chinese PSCs reportedly
The company had not even pro- The Baloch insurgency has
vided bullet proof vehicles, let alone earlier attack on Dasu Hydropower active in Pakistan: Frontier Services
Group (formerly run by Blackwater been the primary cause of the
Project, Pakistani government sourc-
protective gear for making the bus es had attributed this to an accident, founder Erik Prince), China Over-
bomb proof. It seems, therefore, that with Beijing correcting it a few hours seas Security Group, and Hanwei rise in violence against the Chi-
Pakistani accusations will further an- later to point out that it was in fact, International Security Services. nese personnel. However, it is
noy the Chinese.
a terror case. Currently, these PSCs are operating notable that a plethora of other
PRESENT SECURITY This also illustrates the degree under restrictions, such as using lo-
INFRASTRUCTURE OF CPEC of intelligence ingress of the Chinese cal personnel for security duties due groups also operate in Paki-
in Pakistan. It has also been observed to Pakistan laws. These recent inci- stan, which is likely to further
akistan has been making se- that Islamabad lacks in gathering in- dents provide Beijing with an oppor-
rious efforts to beef up secu- telligence regarding terror attacks tunity to advocate for more relaxed increase violence in the area.
Prity for the Chinese. Between related to CPEC. regulations on Chinese PSCs in Pa-
2015 and 2020, two divisions- the kistan. In conclusion, the aggravating
34th Light Infantry Division (2016) CHINESE PRIVATE SECURITY tensions between China and Paki-
and the 44th Light Infantry Divi- COMPANIES (PSCS) IN POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS stan following the attacks, has to be
sion (2020) were raised by Pakistani PAKISTAN FOR INDIA closely watched, since it will certain-
Army, which was supplemented by erhaps due to its low confi- ly lead to a further expansion of Chi-
local police forces to provide securi- dence in Pakistan’s abilities, ndia views the expansion of Chi- nese oversight and penetration into
ty to CPEC projects. PChina has asked the country nese influence in its neighbor- the country.
The key functions of these di- Ihood and along its borders with
visions include – ensuring the safe several times to position its own se- concern, particularly CPEC, which This article first appeared on the web-
curity private firms in the country.
movement of materials and workers It may be recalled that China has a passes through Pakistan-occupied site (www.claws.in) of Centre for Land
between sites, particularly in remote Jammu and Kashmir. The prospect Warfare Studies, New Delhi

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