Security shortcomings in Pakistan are fueling fears for Chinese investments via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a pivotal report cautions against complacency in terror-plagued territories. Jihadists and insurgents continue to undermine Beijing’s foothold.
The consequences of inaction are stark: beyond soldiers, China could mourn civilians, witness project paralysis, and suffer prestige wounds globally. In her Europe Wire piece, Dimitra Stylianou details China’s escalation from rhetorical support to mandates for airtight security, including elite squads and integrated training.
Power subtly tilts as conditions tighten on the indispensable partner. Fraternal ties evolve into a gauntlet of dependability.
Flashpoints abound: Shangla’s deadly March 2024 suicide mission felled five Chinese bound for Dasu Hydropower and their escort. Two succumbed near Karachi Airport in October. Baloch Liberation Army’s vendetta against CPEC endures in the southwest.
These barrages intensify discord, prompting Beijing’s vocal push for efficacious countermeasures. Harmony proclaimed from podiums clashes with on-site frailties, denting relational integrity.
2025’s ISIS-K proliferation exposes oversight failures, infiltrating metropolises, frontiers, and vital nodes despite crackdown rhetoric.
South Asian strikes on Chinese personnel coalesce into a sophisticated, cross-boundary campaign, pinpointing Pakistan as nexus. To fortify CPEC, resolute security overhauls are imperative, lest investments evaporate in violence.