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OPINION MAY 02, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

China’s Private Security Personnel in

Pakistan: Implications for Regional Stability

Pakistan faces the challenge of balancing its sovereignty with the imperative of securing

Chinese investments that it perceives as being vital for its economic development. Given the

simmering anti-China sentiment, an expanded Chinese security presence may inadvertently lend
weight to separatist narratives, fuelling unrest rather than alleviating it.

NAMITA BARTHWAL

eports concerning the deploy-
ment of 60 Chinese personnel
Rfrom three Chinese Private
Security Companies (PSCs)—Dewe
Security Frontier Service Group,
China Overseas Security Group,
and Huaxin Zhongshan Security
Service—to jointly safeguard two
power projects under the China–Pa-
kistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
in Sindh, if confirmed, mark a signif- Chinese PSCs have been operating in Pakistan for some time, their operations thus far have relied exclusively
icant shift in the security dynamics of on local Pakistani nationals (Agency file photo)
the China–Pakistan relationship.
Although Chinese PSCs have mental encouragement that initially tionals or investments were directly couraged the global expansion of its
been operating in Pakistan for some propelled these PSCs to expand their affected, the incident prompted re- PSCs. These entities have served as
time, their operations thus far have operations overseas. newed discussions between China instruments of discreet intervention,
relied exclusively on local Pakistani The move comes amid rising se- and Pakistan regarding the enhance- enabling China to secure strategic as-
nationals. This latest development curity threats to Chinese interests in ment of security measures for Chi- sets and personnel without the direct
represents the first instance of Chi- the region, most notably the Octo- nese-led infrastructure projects. projection of state military power. In
nese nationals being deployed on the ber 2024 attack on Karachi’s Jinnah countries like Djibouti, South Sudan,
ground for security operations in Pa- International Airport, in which two MILITARY OPERATIONS and Iraq, Chinese PSCs have often
kistan. Chinese nationals were killed. This OTHER THAN WAR deployed personnel—both Chinese
Although neither the Chinese incident strained Sino-Pakistani rela- and locals—to protect workers and
nor the Pakistani government have tions and prompted a series of dip- he deployment of Chinese se- infrastructure critical to the BRI’s
confirmed this deployment, Paki- lomatic engagements, during which curity personnel in Pakistan success.
stani outlets have repeatedly report- China even proposed deploying its Taligns with China’s broader Hiring local personnel has typi-
ed China’s demand to allow person- own security personnel to protect its doctrine of ‘Military Operations Oth- cally been China’s preferred model
nel from its private security firms to citizens abroad. Relations were even- er Than War’ (MOOTW), as outlined for its PSCs, as it allows for smoother
protect CPEC-related infrastructure. tually restored following high-level in the 2013 Defence White Paper. integration and helps avoid diplo-
This deployment reportedly marks discussions. This doctrine legitimises overseas matic friction. In Pakistan, too, Chi-
the initial phase of a broader plan, In February 2025, Pakistan’s se- interventions aimed at safeguarding nese PSCs initially relied on local
with additional personnel expect- curity situation deteriorated signifi- national interests, particularly in vol- hires to safeguard personnel and in-
ed to be dispatched in subsequent cantly when the Balochistan Libera- atile regions where Chinese invest- frastructure working on the CPEC.
stages based on evolving security re- tion Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar ments are exposed to security threats. However, the escalating num-
quirements. Chinese PSCs operate in Express, resulting in the deaths of Following the launch of the Belt ber of attacks on Chinese workers
close coordination with the Chinese 26 individuals, including 18 security and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, and key CPEC installations has con-
government. It was in fact govern- personnel. Although no Chinese na- the Chinese government actively en- Continued on next page... >>

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