ISLAMABAD: Top Chinese paramilitary force commander on Monday discussed proposals for increasing Pak-China counterterrorism cooperation with Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The proposals were discussed during a meeting of Commander of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force General Wang Ning with Gen Bajwa

“The visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s contributions for peace and stability in the region and discussed proposals to increase bilateral cooperation in fields of counter terrorism, security training and sharing of experience,” the ISPR said.

Chinese People’s Armed Police Force is a paramilitary police force, which is responsible for counterterrorism operations in restive areas such as western Xinjiang region. The 1.5 million-strong paramilitary police force is also responsible for border defence.

Although the visit was planned in advance, analysts are looking at it in the context of growing instability in Gilgit-Baltistan, which borders China and where unrest started earlier this month with terrorist attacks on girls’ schools in Diamer district and more recently on Police in Gilgit’s Kargah region.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018