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IS kidnapping of Chinese nationals prompts Pakistan to enhance security

The kidnapping, and killing, of two Chinese nationals by Islamic State (IS) militants was a rare incident, but it renews fears about Chinese workers' safety in the volatile Balochistan province, writes Saif Islam.
On 24 May, armed assailants kidnapped two Chinese nationals, one man and one woman, from the Jinnah Town area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. According to initial reports, the two victims were learning Urdu, and teaching Mandarin, in Quetta. Witnesses recounted that three armed men, claiming to be members of the police, forced the hostages into a vehicle without number plates and drove away. On 8 June, IS claimed responsibility for kidnapping and killing the victims. The statement came hours after Pakistani officials announced a successful military operation against IS elements in Balochistan. Whether the military operation was directly linked to a rescue attempt has not been confirmed, and it is not known whether the perpetrators ever demanded a ransom.   
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The incident attracted widespread media coverage in Pakistan and abroad, raising concerns about the safety of more than 500 Chinese nationals working on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Balochistan. Chinese workers have been killed by Baloch militants in the past, although incidents of kidnapping are very rare. It would be premature to suggest this kidnapping represents the start of a wider trend. Pakistani officials recently claimed that the victims were engaged in illegal missionary activities, and unrelatedly, local police previously offered them security “but they refused to accept the offer.” If these claims are true, their involvement in missionary activity and lack of personal security could have inspired, and aided, the IS attack. According to a September 2016 report, Pakistan deployed 3,134 security personnel for the protection of 558 Chinese workers in Balochistan, a ratio of almost 6 to 1, which likely explains the lack of successful kidnappings.  

Nonetheless, the latest incident has renewed fears that with China’s growing international influence and investments, as part of the One Road One Belt Initiative, protecting its citizens abroad has become a major national security challenge. This is particularly true in Balochistan, where several Islamist militant and Baloch separatist groups operate. Fearing the risk of losing much-needed Chinese investment, on 11 June, Pakistani officials announced additional security measures to protect Chinese nationals across the country. These plans include the deployment of thousands of extra police officers, tighter monitoring of Chinese nationals, and a review of existing security arrangements in Balochistan. “We are already alert, but this incident has made us extra vigilant over Chinese security,” said one security official from the province of Sindh. While these measures are likely to mitigate the risk of further kidnappings, given the ongoing separatist insurgency and Islamist militancy in Balochistan, Chinese nationals will continue to face high security threats in the near future. 

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