Pakistan: CPEC In Shadow Of Balochistan Insurgency – OpEd

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative aims to link China and Pakistan by oil and gas pipelines, railroads, and an optical fibre link that runs from Gwadar to Xinjiang. The project, which is the largest endeavour in China and Pakistan’s bilateral relations, is threatened by a number of causes.

This article investigates the persistent security issues that emerged as a result of the separatist and destabilising activities of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). Assuming that a secure and stable environment is required to reap the benefits of this mammoth project, it also elaborates on Chinese concerns and Pakistan’s efforts to overcome them.

Balochistan, a province in southwest Pakistan, has had a protracted struggle for independence, identity, and sovereignty over its rich resources. A further layer of complexity has been added by the insurgency’s engagement with the massive CPEC project, which aims to link China’s Xinjiang province to Balochistan’s Gwadar Port. In order to achieve a more resilient and successful trajectory for Balochistan and its surroundings, the article emphasises the requirement of a balanced strategy that tackles local issues, promotes sustainable development, and integrates indigenous perspectives.

For many years, CPEC has been in the centre of diplomacy. It is a project with numerous advantages for Pakistan and China. Following the opening of the Gwadar Port and the Economic Corridor, China has two significant advantages. Firstly it connects western China with the Middle East by offering the quickest path into China. In this approach, China can quickly reach Middle Eastern markets by utilising the Economic Corridor. Because it is almost 4000 km from China’s main coastal area, it is ideal for China’s western region, especially the Xinjiang region. Second, the projected Gwadar-Xinjiang energy pipeline offers China a more reliable and affordable energy supply. Chinese transshipments pass through the Strait of Malacca faces numerous economic and security difficulties. Gwadar provides China with a variety of financial options and because of its strategic location, China can easily protect its interests there. It provides the ability to increase the security of Chinese ships in the Arabian Sea.

Geographically, CPEC begins in Gwadar port, which is near the Strait of Hormuz, which is regarded as a major route for oil shipping. The province of Xinjiang in Western China is where the path comes to an end. It has taken into account 18 different projects, such as the growth of roads, trains, electricity, industrial zones, and projects related to the Gwadar port.

For Pakistan’s economy, the infrastructure and energy-related projects are of utmost importance. In the history of China-Pakistan ties, CPEC is a turning point. Foreign investment is facilitated by CPEC in Pakistan. Investors feel at ease and secure transacting here due to the accessibility of this trade route.  Access to the Arabian Sea by China will facilitate its trade because the journey is shortened. The potential benefits of CPEC includes Pakistan’s connections with Central Asian nations would be facilitated. Otherwise, it would be difficult to enter these nations. Pakistan’s economy will grow as a result of the connections with these resource-rich nations.

By importing raw materials from Central Asia and Afghanistan, Pakistan will be able to build its industrial sector thanks to a quick and cost-effective way. China has a wealth of industrial resources, which gives him an advantage in spreading its goods. By connecting different regions of the areas we will be able to manage the resources properly. Pakistan has abundant natural resources, including coal, in some areas. In a similar vein, oil is a valuable resource for Central Asians. It will link these resource-rich regions with resource-poor regions.

CPEC is seen as the primary project to strengthen the economies of China and Pakistan, although it is hampered by security concerns. Thus, militant groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) are the main security obstacles. As Chinese labourers have been slain and abducted from various sites, these organisations are leading the charge to impede the project’s progress through physical destruction and attacks on the Chinese labour force. China has expressed concern over Pakistan’s state of internal security as a result of this. These nationalist groups are supported by foreign intelligence services in an effort to promote separatism in the province.

There is a historical narrative of perceived marginalisation and grievances at the centre of the Balochistan conflict. Balochistan has a unique cultural and ethnic identity, which frequently conflicts with the laws and customs of the central administrations. Baloch communities have experienced emotions of captivity and neglect as a result of historical complaints related to the integration of Baloch regions into contemporary nation-states. The yearning for further autonomy or even independence has been driven by this sense of historical injustice. Issues of representation and governance are intimately related to the political aspect of the insurgencies.

Balochistan’s complex tribal and ethnic composition, along with its distant location and small population, have made it difficult to run the country effectively. The formation of insurgent movements is significantly influenced by economic considerations as well. Natural resources like minerals, fisheries, and natural gas are abundant in Balochistan. However, the local populace has not always received an equitable share of the advantages of these resources. Other objectives included removing obstacles to unrestricted cross-border trade with Iran, reducing security checkpoints in the region, and gaining access to electricity, clean drinking water, and medical facilities.

Local people in Gwadar are dissatisfied because of a variety of problems including unemployment, illegal trawling, and problems with border trade. For the fishing community, whose life depends on the sector, illegal trawling continues to be one of the largest problems. The catch of the local fisherman is impacted by the arrival of trawlers from Sindh and other neighbouring nations to fish in the waters off Gwadar. The problem extends beyond illegal trawlers since locals with their small boats are unable to compete with better prepared Chinese rivals. It is believed that the government has granted Chinese trawlers a licence to fish in the waters off the coast.

Although Gwadar has undergone significant development over the past two decades, many people feel excluded and as though they haven’t profited from any of it. Resentment, on the other hand, is present. The inhabitants of the fishing community believe that they are becoming outsiders in their own community. Instead of improving the quality of life for the locals, the building and investments in the coastal city have made things worse.

Gwadar’s ongoing violence and unrest may deter both domestic and international investors from funding CPEC projects. Potential investors might rethink their engagement due to the uncertainty surrounding the security of their money and worries about project delays or disruptions. The development of many CPEC programmes may be hampered by this lack of investor interest.

The efficient operation of CPEC is directly threatened by insurgent attacks on vital infrastructure including as energy facilities, transportation networks, and other. These assaults have the potential to harm or interfere with crucial infrastructure, which would cause delays in projects, higher costs, and operational challenges. Such interruptions might have a negative effect on the corridor’s ability to transport resources, energy, and goods without interruption. Beyond such interruptions, there are worries about how the unrest in Balochistan may affect how the CPEC is viewed outside. Pakistan’s capacity to guarantee the security of investments, infrastructure, and employees may be questioned given the unfavourable portrayal of the security situation in the area. This might deter other nations from cooperating on CPEC projects or establishing partnerships, so reducing the corridor’s potential and international reach.

In conclusion, CPEC is the biggest cooperative venture in the history of China and Pakistan’s bilateral relations. Through land highways and railroads, CPEC seeks to connect China and Pakistan in order to promote economic integration. Both China and Pakistan would gain strategically and economically from the initiative. The project would give China access to the Central Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets which is important from a Chinese perspective. The initiative would speed up China’s trade activity, which would help the Chinese economy.

Additionally, the project would offer Chinese economic activity a more dependable and secure route than the Indian Ocean route, where China is encircled by American Allies. Even though the project is exciting and is anticipated to benefit Pakistan and China greatly, there are some elements who are working to thwart CPEC. The biggest worry or obstacle is Pakistan’s security environment and domestic instability. Uncertainty is produced by these rising tensions. Weak democracy and inept leadership would continue to prevent the country from fully using CPEC’s advantages. The democratic culture is deteriorating due to rising corruption, demands for accountability, and Dharna politics. Along with internal unrest, the nation must contend with the violent threats of terrorism, sectarianism, and extremism.

Due to the actions of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Gwadar, or the province of Balochistan, where the project was first conceived, is rife with instability and uncertainty. These nationalist groups are supported by foreign intelligence services in an effort to promote separatism in the province. The government is trying to get the reunite Baloch leaders on the same page to avoid further clashes between them.  To repress the country’s insurgency groups, the Pakistani army is conducting military operations in the tribal regions. Although these measures are commendable, more work remains. The speed of progress and prosperity would only be accelerated by a diligent and strong security strategy that would guarantee peace and stability.