22 January 2017•Update: 22 January 2017
By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistan's interior ministry has formally announced the establishment of a 15000-men strong force for the security of the multi billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Project (CPEC), state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.
The force, which comprises of 9000 army troops and 6000 para military soldiers has been named as the Special Security Division.
The 51.5 billion dollar CPEC, which is part of China's One Road-One Belt project, aims to connect its northwestern Xinjiang province to Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province through a 2000-mile network of road, rail and pipelines.
Baluchistan's deep-sea Gawadar port, a key component of CPEC, will provide the shortest route for the Chinese cargo destined for Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
Two Chinese ships have joined the Pakistan navy earlier this month for the security of Gawadar port.
