China has asked Pakistan to provide additional security for its envoy in Islamabad citing threat to his life from a militant group, media reports said on Saturday.

The request was made in a letter written to the Ministry of Interior on October 19, according to Pakistani media.

The letter, circulated in Pakistani media, was written by the focal person for the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Ping Ying Fi who has also asked Pakistan to immediately arrest a militant who wanted to “assassinate” Chinese ambassador in Islamabad Yao Jing.

Ping said that Yao is facing threats to his life from a militant, Abdul Wali, who belongs to the banned East Turkestan Independent Movement, which largely operates from China’s Xinjiang region, bordering Pakistan. It is suspected that Wali has entered Pakistan from China.

China asked Pakistan to “enhance the protection” of the ambassador and other Chinese working in Pakistan. It has also asked Pakistan to “arrest the terrorist and hand over to us (China) as soon as possible”.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry and the Chinese embassy declined to comment on the letter.

The CPEC, which traverses through Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK), will connect Xinjiang with Pakistan’s seaport Gwadar through a network of rail, road and pipeline.

(Featured image: Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing)