NEW DELHI: China’s state media has raised strong concerns about the security of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects as well as Chinese nationals living in Pakistan following the terror attack on July 13 which left more than 130 people dead.

Global Times, which is run by the Communist Party of China’s People’s Daily mouthpiece, also urged Chinese nationals residing and working in Pakistan as part of the much-hyped CPEC project to be extra careful of their safety following the terror attack.

On July 13, the day disgraced former prime minister

was to return to Pakistan for his arrest, a powerful blast rocked southern Balochistan, and its victims included a politician running for a provincial legislature.

With extremism and militancy on the rise in northwestern Pakistan, China stands to have its dream projects possibly sabotaged by violent subversive forces.

“… if the situation in Pakistan continues to deteriorate, it's possible that some CPEC projects in fields such as energy and transport may become targets of terrorist attacks. Chinese citizens living in Pakistan need to increase security awareness, reduce outdoor activities in the coming weeks and avoid going to crowded places. Chinese enterprises doing business in the country should also raise their security measures,” said a column in

.

China has cause to be worried. It has issued

procurement loans to the tune of nearly $67 billion to Pakistan. While this has made

very happy on the surface, it has burdened them with worries of repayment, not least since according to news agency Bloomberg, importing heavy machinery and other infrastructure equipment from China for the CPEC project has caused its current account deficit to shoot up by nearly 50 per cent.

To add to Pakistan’s woes, most of the loan will be eaten up by correction of electricity networks, building a deep-water port at

and paving uneven roads. Seen that way, it won’t be long until Pakistan is forced to make additional concessions to China to be relieved of the cumbersome loan sitting on its back.

Therefore, Global Times has advocated greater security cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad. Comparing the situation in northwestern Pakistan to the one in the restive Chinese province of

, Global Times said China is willing to share its experience with Pakistan to maintain regional security and stability.

“Apart from traditional counter-terrorism cooperation, more efforts are needed to provide China's neighbour with necessary assistance… More security-related investment projects must be introduced to Pakistan under the CPEC framework. The CPEC has much potential to enhance security cooperation between China and Pakistan, and improvements in Pakistan's security situation will also bode well for the CPEC,” said the state-backed media outlet.