By The South Asia Times

BEIJING — Pakistan and China on Wednesday agreed to intensify cooperation in counterterrorism and law enforcement by establishing quarterly meetings of a joint security working group and holding annual talks between their interior ministers, as both sides seek to strengthen coordination against terrorism, crime, and emerging security threats.

Pakistan Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the agreement after a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Xiaohong at the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing, where the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and mapped out expanded cooperation across multiple security sectors.

According to official statement, the talks focused on joint counterterrorism initiatives, police training exchange programs, and deeper collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Both ministers emphasized that regular, structured engagement was essential to translate strategic partnership into effective operational cooperation.

Minister Wang welcomed the Pakistani delegation and expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in place for Chinese citizens and projects in Pakistan. He praised Pakistan’s efforts in internal security and counterterrorism, noting that China “highly values Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism” and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening cooperation at all levels.

The two sides agreed to further enhance rapid response mechanisms against terrorism and crime, expand the scope of police training exchanges, and improve coordination between their law enforcement institutions. Discussions also covered Islamabad–Beijing sister-city cooperation, with both ministers endorsing a joint strategy to boost the professional capacity and training standards of police and security personnel.

Naqvi briefed the Chinese side on Pakistan’s security framework for Chinese nationals and projects, stressing that their protection remains a top national priority. He said Pakistan has taken strong measures nationwide and is now establishing a special protection unit in Islamabad dedicated to the security of Chinese citizens and joint development initiatives.

He also welcomed Chinese assistance in tackling cybercrime, saying Pakistan seeks to benefit from Chinese expertise to strengthen the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency. Highlighting the role of technology in modern security, Naqvi said AI-based Chinese technologies could significantly enhance Pakistan’s ability to counter terrorism and address internal security challenges.

“Pakistan and China share an unbreakable partnership that no one can undermine,” Naqvi said, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to expanding sustainable cooperation to confront shared security threats and protect common interests.

Both ministers emphasized the importance of information sharing, institutional exchanges, and joint training, agreeing that closer collaboration between their security agencies would improve preparedness against evolving threats.

Naqvi conveyed best wishes from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to the Chinese leadership and invited Minister Wang to visit Pakistan. In response, Wang invited Naqvi to attend the Global Security Cooperation Forum scheduled to be held in China in September, describing Pakistan and China as strategic partners and expressing his pleasure at hosting Pakistan’s interior minister at the start of 2026.

A luncheon was hosted in honor of the Pakistani delegation following the meeting. Senior officials from both countries, including Chinese vice ministers, counterterrorism and international cooperation chiefs, and Pakistan’s top interior, police, cybercrime, and diplomatic officials, were also present.

The agreement to institutionalize security dialogue through quarterly working group meetings and annual ministerial talks signals a significant deepening of Pakistan–China cooperation in counterterrorism, policing, cyber security, and capacity-building, reinforcing their shared commitment to regional stability and long-term strategic partnership.