Caution urged for Chinese in Pakistan

Terrorists reportedly have planned to launch a series of attacks on Chinese agencies and personnel in Pakistan in the near future, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan said in an "important security notice" issued on its website on Friday.

The embassy alerted Chinese agencies based in the South Asian country and Chinese citizens there to boost security awareness, strengthen internal precautions, minimize outdoor activities and avoid going to crowded places.

The notice was issued at a time when terrorist threats continue to plague the country.

On Dec 1, four terrorists launched an attack on a student hostel in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, killing at least nine people and injuring 35, said Xinhua News Agency, citing local Urdu media ARY.

Zhang Daojian, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute in Islamabad, said the teaching operations of his institute continue, though the institute has required faculty members to reduce the amount of time spent outdoors.

"Our teachers are told to return by a car as soon as possible and avoid long-term stays after finishing teaching in places outside (the institute)," Zhang said.

Chinese in the country are asked to cooperate if they are checked by the Pakistani military or police, the embassy notice said.

In case of emergency, Chinese in the country should call the police and contact the Chinese embassy or Consulate General for help, according to the notice.

In May, the embassy issued a security notice alerting Chinese citizens to minimize going outdoors and to boost security precautions after several cases of terrorist attacks or abductions were reported in the country's southwestern Balochistan province.

Lin Minwang, a professor on South Asian studies at Fudan University, said the latest alert is a good reminder to Chinese travelers who plan to travel to the country but are not fully aware of the security situation there.

As China and Pakistan enjoy a high level of bilateral political mutual trust, and their anti-terror cooperation has worked smoothly through numerous communication channels, the two sides should further boost their collaboration, Lin said.

The possibility cannot be ruled out that attacks planned against Chinese in Pakistan would aim to alienate the two nations, Lin added.

Boosting collaboration on security and anti-terror affairs has been high on the bilateral agenda of Beijing and Islamabad, as well as on the agenda for regional cooperation.

Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou told Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Beijing on November 21 that China appreciates Pakistan's efforts in cracking down on the extremist and terrorist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement and championing security for the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Eight Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries held an anti-cyberterrorism joint drill on Wednesday in Xiamen, Fujian province－the first joint anti-terrorism drill attended by eight members since India and Pakistan joined the SCO in June.