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Pakistan
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‘The Chinese are our No 1 enemy’: why Beijing’s US$62 billion investment in Pakistan is the top target for Balochistan separatists

  • Government officials say Islamabad has set aside US$9.1 million for security in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
  • But the Balochistan Liberation Army has vowed to continue its attacks on Chinese projects and nationals, as they fear being turned into a minority in their own province

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The funeral of Awais Ali Shah, a security supervisor killed after BLA insurgents attacked a luxury hotel in the port city of Gwadar. Photo: Reuters
Kaswar Klasra
As the three gunmen forced their way into Pakistan’s Zaver Pearl Continental Hotel on May 12, the management of the only five-star hotel in the city of Gwadar, Balochistan province – where China is building a multibillion-dollar port – had a prompt response.
They contacted Pakistan’s Special Security Division (SSD), which dispatched a team of commandos within seven minutes of the call. The team killed the assailants, but one member, from the Pakistani Navy, and four hotel employees lost their lives.

Since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) became operational in 2016-17, Chinese interests and Chinese nationals have been targeted by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been fighting a long-running insurgency.

Under the CPEC, which is part of Beijing’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative to boost global trade, China is providing US$62 billion for the development of port facilities in Gwadar as well as energy generation and transport infrastructure projects.

The CPEC will connect the deep-sea port of Gwadar to the city of Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang province, and is expected to provide a boost for financially struggling Pakistan – but the Baloch insurgents fear the wave of investment will turn them into a minority in their own province.

A cargo vessel moored at the Gwadar deep-sea port in Pakistan. Photo: Xinhua
A cargo vessel moored at the Gwadar deep-sea port in Pakistan. Photo: Xinhua

Since 2016, Pakistan has allocated 1.3 billion rupees (US$9.1 million) for CPEC security, on top of the efforts of the Balochistan provincial government, and created the 15,000-man SSD. It cost 50 million rupees (US$351,000) to set up the division, according to a government official.

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