Maj-Gen: Pak military ensures security of CPEC
- By Guo Xiaohong
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, March 17, 2017
 |
|
Major General Asif Ghafoor (L), also the head of Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khalid speak at a press briefing held in Beijing on March 14, 2017. |
More than 15,000 specially-trained military personnel have been deployed for the safety of Chinese and locals working on CPEC projects (China Pakistan Economic Corridor).
In addition, the Pakistan Navy has raised the Naval Task Force-88 to protect the CPEC and Gwadar Port, said Major General Asif Ghafoor, also the head of Pakistan’s military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at a press briefing held in Beijing on March 14, 2017.
Pakistan’s provinces are also raising their own forces to protect the CPEC.
The CPEC is a mega network of roads, rail links, power plants and other infrastructure projects connecting western China's Xinjiang to Pakistan's southern port of Gwadar.
“Every Pakistani is a defender of CPEC,” said the major general, as the long term game-changer project will create large numbers of jobs and boost Pakistan’s economy.
According to Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Masood Khalid, there are approximately 19,000 Chinese working on different projects in Pakistan and the Pakistani government has provided them with protection and security.
Both the major general and the ambassador agreed that economic prosperity is the most effective weapon against terrorism. Therefore, all necessary measures are being taken and will be taken to ensure the security of CPEC.
When asked about Pakistan’s security after two violent incidents claimed more than 100 lives and injured hundreds of others in Pakistan, the major general told China.org.cn that Pakistan, a primary victim of terrorism and an important contributor to world peace, will continue its efforts to control terrorism.
“Back to 2007 or 2008, there used to be a terrorist attack every day in Pakistan,” said the major general. “Yet after an arduous journey of hard work and sacrifice, the country has eliminated and dislodged the terrorists’ capability to blend, coordinate and execute large-scale terrorist activities in the country.”
In the last ten years of anti-terrorist activities, Pakistan lost 72,000 people, among which 16,000 were from the armed forces.
The country has endeavored to disconnect the financial support or link between terrorists and possible sympathizers in Pakistan, said Ghafoor.
Pakistan deploys about 200,000 troops along its western border with Afghanistan and has put in place a comprehensive border security mechanism to control movement to and fro while still continuing to make all possible efforts for the stability of Afghanistan, which, Ambassador Masood Khalid said, is in the interest of not only Afghanistan, but also Pakistan and China.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)