In the backdrop of the attack of Chinese engineers in Pakistan, images have surfaced on social media showing Chinese workers at the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, armed with AK-47 guns to protect themselves.

July 14 saw an attack on a bus that was carrying Chinese engineers to the Dasu dam project in Pakistan’s northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Nine Chinese engineers died in the attack, the first on Chinese nationals in the country, with Beijing quick to send its team to investigate it.

The use of AK-47s raises questions about two Special Security Divisions (SSDs) raised by Pakistan to protect Chinese workers and assets in the country. These are 34 Light Infantry Division created in September 2016 and 44 Light Infantry Division created in 2020, each having 15,000 troops.

Chinese workers in Pakistan are involved in CPEC, the mega project that connects China’s western region with Gwadar port in the restive Balochistan province.

The aim is to give Chinese products a wider market in West Asia via the project, but questions have been raised about the viability and financial impact of the project.

With billions of dollars pumped into the project, the focus is also on the security of Chinese nationals working on it. It is understood that Beijing has been providing financial assistance to Islamabad so that security cover is given, but the Dasu attack points to a failure.