China Pakistan Economic Corridor has become an apple of discord for the Baloch nationals. Days after Islamabad was rocked by a suicide bombing episode, Pakistan-administered Balochistan went through a bloody weekend in which numerous Pakistani security personnel as well as civilians lost their lives. Balochistan is gripped by protests against the projects being developed under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), one of Beijing’s key projects to accomplish its Belt and Road Initiative.
In an ensuing clash between Pakistani Security Personnel and Baloch Liberation Army a Pakistani policeman was shot dead and several injured, subsequently, the protests turned violent in the Gwadar region. Police fired shots at protestors in Turbat and Chaman areas. The resultant clash led to the deaths of at least five security personnel.
Balochistan Liberation Army and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan may be working together
The Pakistani Media have claimed that Balochistan Liberation Army and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan may be working together; however, there are no confirmed reports of such alignment. The reports are based on the similar natures of attacks that the two groups have executed against Pakistani security personnel in recent weeks. If there is any credence that the Baloch separatists are fighting together with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (who have their bases in Afghanistan), then the Pakistani authorities are in deep trouble, as Kabul rulers are now beyond their ambit.
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‘Haq Do Tehreek’s have warned Chinese workers to leave Pakistan
Another splinter group ‘Haq Do Tehreek’s supporters have been protesting for nearly two months against the projects that have led to deep-sea trawling. Balochistan’s Gwadar has been peddled as the ‘heart of CPEC’ in Pakistan. And with increased intensity coupled with violent agitations, the beleaguered Pakistani Government finds itself in deep distress, in fact, it is not able to address Chinese Security concerns.
Meanwhile, Chinese citizens in Balochistan’s Gwadar port, one of the most significant termination points for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, have been warned by the politically significant ‘Haq Do Tehreeq’ outfit (Gwadar Rights Movement) to leave by Thursday. The ultimatum has further escalated the pressure on Islamabad, which has faced Beijing’s ire in past when it was seen to be failing to protect Chinese assets in both legally and illegally administered Pakistani territories. There are fewer than 500 Chinese in Gwadar, all of them dangerously languishing in the Gwadar Port compound. The apprehensions are high if the Chinese citizens do not comply with the dogmatic decree and leave.
CPEC would reduce Pakistan to ‘a vassal state’
Many Pakistani political economists fear that CPEC would reduce Pakistan to ‘a vassal state’. Leading Pakistani political economist S. Akbar Zaidi in the past has described it as a Chinese project, for their vested interests, Pakistan plays second fiddle and just happens to be part of geographical terrain’.
On Christmas, the birthday of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, regarded as Pakistan’s creator, the violence escalated and six more security personnel were killed. The incident reportedly occurred in Kohlu’s Kahan area, which took the lives of five Pakistani troops including a captain. Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.
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