Pakistan's Balochistan Dilemma: Separatist Violence and China's Growing Concerns

Islamabad(The Uttam Hindu): Balochistan is becoming an unsolvable puzzle for Pakistan. The actions of separatist extremists in the province have shaken the government. The increasing violence in this province can cause a big wound to Pakistan not only from the security point of view but also from the economic point of view. China has invested here on a large scale but the most important question is whether Beijing can step back after the recent violent incidents.

Balochistan comprises about 44% of Pakistan's land area. It also shares international borders with Afghanistan and Iran. The province has only 5% arable land. It is known for its extremely dry desert climate but is considered rich in natural resources. Despite this, it has lagged behind in the race of development. The province has vast reserves of copper, gold, coal and natural gas, which is a significant part of Pakistan's mineral wealth. Due to its strategic position connecting the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia, Balochistan is of great importance from a geopolitical point of view.

Due to the geostrategic importance of Balochistan, a large part of China's ambitious project China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) lies in this province. CPEC is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's 'Belt and Road' initiative and the port of Gwadar city is considered very important for this project. It is a transformative infrastructure project that aims to connect China to international markets through Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast.

The Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea could prove to be a major trade gateway for the region. However, a large number of Baloch people believe that these investments are a form of external exploitation. The Pakistani government presents CPEC as a game-changer but locals argue that these massive projects bring little benefit. The influx of Chinese companies and workers has deepened resentment among local people as they struggle with unemployment and inadequate social services. However, the issue of exploitation of Balochistan is quite old. For decades, local people have been alleging that the provincial and central governments have been making huge profits by exploiting the natural resources here but development in the area has been completely neglected. Baloch nationalists in the province have revolted for independence in 1948-50, 1958-60, 1962-63 and 1973-1977.

There are many separatist groups active in Balochistan, out of which the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has emerged as the biggest challenge. Recently, this group has shown its strength by kidnapping the Jaffar Express. For China, the success of CPEC depends on stability in Balochistan. However, the continued resistance of separatist groups is a serious challenge to its investment. If the conflict escalates, it could threaten Beijing's ambitions in the region.

There are currently about 30,000 Chinese citizens working on CPEC projects in Pakistan. For Beijing, the safety of its citizens is a major issue, especially in Balochistan. Baloch rebels, apart from demanding independence from Pakistan, have also been vocal in their opposition to Chinese projects in the region. Some media reports have also claimed that China intends to deploy its army in the province, although it cannot be said right now whether Pakistan will be ready for this. But these speculations have revealed that the cracks of distrust between China and Pakistan are deepening. If Pakistan does not address China's security concerns, it will have to suffer a big loss.