Lei pointed out that Chinese companies have actively been taking part in the construction of various projects in different fields. PHOTO: FILE
The one concern that should be raised regarding this is that of sovereignty. A port, even if it is yet to be developed, has potential strategic and commercial value. Giving it to a foreign power is inadvisable, especially in this case, since we may end up harming our relations with China’s Indian and American rivals. For now, there is no imminent threat since Gwadar is not functional. It must be noted that China did not see the possible value of Gwadar as compensating for their security concerns. In fact, it was Pakistan which requested China to make Gwadar its naval base, but the Chinese did not accept.
The government never got around to building the roads and rail network that are crucial to connecting the port. The Singapore Port Authority, which was previously in charge of developing Gwadar, was so frustrated being rebuffed by the government that they simply asked out of their contract. We are now asking the Chinese to rescue us and essentially handing over Gwadar in a bid to do so. Also, considering that the people of Balochistan are already so alienated, making such a decision without taking them on board is not wise.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2013.
COMMENTS (31)
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@Akhtar Malik: Dear Sir, Thanks for words of appreciation. You have further said "And mind it, if Pakistan becomes victim of this aggression then it will not remain confined to Pakistan, India will also become target of this global plan. So it is very essential that we should involve China in this scenario." I totally agree. In fact why China alone India and other neighbors be involved to negate the terrorists and separatists operating under the umbrella of any super power. This sub continent has to be free to develop. This can be achieved with mutual trust and signing defense pacts etc with each other on the basis of equality and honor. Handing over our territory to any one for that matter is a suicidal way. If we remember the old history of subcontinent this handing over is the sure way to suicide. Outsiders always take away every thing when ever two neighbors, partners or brothers fight. Pakistan has done the same earlier by handing over large areas of Ladakh and that today is China not Pakistan. Any way request deeper thinking. Regards.
Dear VINOD: I partly agree with your analyses and admit that allowing the Europeans into India without appreciating their future plans was a blunder that resulted into colonization of the subcontinent. However the situation now is quite different. Just see the threat looming large on our Western borders, including Baluchistan and FATA. If the terrorists and separatists are operating under the umbrella of a super power then it is beyond the capacity of Pakistan alone to counter it. And mind it, if Pakistan becomes victim of this aggression then it will not remain confined to Pakistan, India will also become target of this global plan. So it is very essential that we should involve China in this scenario. However I agree that it should be done intelligently.
@Ali: Jealousy not at all Sir. Look at the views expressed by your own people and even the editorial. Yes we are concerned....and not jealous. It is the same concern that a well meaning brother has for the other brother who has taken his share and moved on.
@Akhtar Malik: Dear Malik Saheb, I am sure you are aware of early history of India. Sir, when you say " I feel that the presence of China in Gawadar will boost our security in the region and its advantages will outweigh the disadvantages (if any)," I am reminded of the entry and begining of British rule of India and fall of the great Muslim rulers. It is to remind you that to start with many Muslim rulers handed over the security of their kingdoms to the British, French and also Spaniards who came as tradesmen. Muslim rulers started paying money to the Company to raise, train and maintain Army to safe guard their states. It was a sad sight that the British and French were using this army to settle their score with each other and also secretly planning to destroy and occupy the Muslims and Hindu Kingdoms. The British army officers as regents or company representatives in the courts were fully involved and encouraging in fights and destruction.Then came a time when they started to decide who will be the next king. I will request you to read the famous books The White Moguls and the Last Emperor. I am afraid that the history is begining to repeat itself. With all humility I will just say please think before you leap. To handover the security of your region can never ever be of any "advantage" as you say.
There is no doubt that handing over Gawadar to China will give tremendous economic and commercial advantages to Pakistan. The only aspect that may worry some people in Pakistan is the matter of sovereignty. I feel that the presence of China in Gawadar will boost our security in the region and its advantages will outweigh the disadvantages (if any), keeping in view the geopolitical environment through which Pakistan is passing at present. Of late Baluchistan had become the battlefield of many international power players in the region. Coping with that menace was beyond the capacity of Pakistan alone. Chinese factor will take care of all this and will relieve Pakistan from these worries.
@Cynical: "@G.Din Do you have a full time employment sir? Just asking?" If you have an attractive offer, I assure you I will consider it!
@Cynical: Please ask this question to yourself instead asking to Mr G Din. No country in the world hands over its land/sea to other country for management. It is a blazing shame. what Mr Din or the editorial is saying is not to be "Cynically" rejected.
@G.Din
Do you have a full time employment sir? Just asking?
@Wise Old Man: "Why not give the entire reins of the govt, with all its powers to China, so that they can run Pakistan smoothly. Or even better…let Pakistan be a part of China!!!" Why not, indeed? It could "prosper" like Xingiang and be converted into a Muslim-minority state. They have enough Hans to accomplish that, too! I don't know how old you are, sir/madam, but you certainly are wise!
@Goshawk: There is an old saying "To cut the nose to spite the face" I hope you have heard this and also understand it's meaning. It is not Indians alone who are naming this event as an unfortunate move but also all the sane voices in Pakistan are saying the same. In your hate towards India please do not ignore the the truth and the sane advice offered by true well wishers of Pakistan in Pakistan.
Dear Editorial Team of ET, a very bold and pragmatic editorial. But as ever......... Sir who is listening to you..... pray and hope it is not too late.
@dark justice: Dear Sir you remind me of MeerZafer. All Meer Zafer think similarly. remember it all ended with Britisher presenting the heads of two prince to their father Bahadur Shah Zafer.. the last emperor of India.Regards and good luck.
To All Indians may it concern
We do not have any issue giving Gwadar to China and all your above mentioned comments saying we will not have any benefit from it. If handing over Gwadar to China will harm Pakistan so let it be and this must give India many benefits..
The fact is that it is only your concern and problem not ours..... Your AK Antony is crying out loud "In one sentence, it is a matter of concern for us,”. Either the above Indian commentators are fools or your AK Antony. You need to mind your own business and correct your worries first.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=377668018998678
@C. Nandkishore: Its actually the other way around my dear.
@shahid jamil
""A thought provoking editorial. Why we cannot run the port ourselves?"" simple because we cant run a primary school by ourselves... :)
Its good to handover port to china rather USA invade it and occupy it without Pakistan's permission.
@C. Nandkishore: i completely disagree....it is the north-west Indians on whose minds Pakistan hangs over all the time....
"Giving it to a foreign power is inadvisable, especially in this case, since we may end up harming our relations with China’s Indian and American rivals."
Mr. Editor... please dont be so naive... as if India and America are not plotting against Pakistan and China...
Pakistan's army is so busy on 3 fronts that it might be strategically right to hand over the control of port to China to operate it and at least maintain some presence...
This also seems strategically good decision, in view of the fact that Pakistan Army would at least maintain focus on tribal areas and prevent any fall out... of American forces pull-out from Afghanistan...
@Shahid Jamil:
That's a very valid question. Why cannot Pakistan handle the port itself.
Looking at how it is opposed by the Baloch and India, Gwadar port maybe a cover for a Chinese naval base.
Is this the case?
Gwadar was Geo-strategic, when former USSR had presence in Afghanistan. Now it is Regional-strategic; means important only for Pakistan, Iran, India and China (to restrain India). Presence of China strengthens Pakistan Navy. Good so far.
It is said that it will be used for commercial purpose most of the time. As far as Infrastructure is concerned, a typical modern navy doesn't heavily, or even moderately, rely on naval ports. It is useful, if only heavy naval infrastructure is going to be in place. If this is the case, it can be believed that Pakistan has ceded Gwadar to China unofficially for a long period of time.
Can China put a Pipeline through Gwadar. It is non-feasible, due to dwindling natural resources in Middle-East. Even if there are chances of feasibility, they are, if, such a pipe-line goes through India, via Indian Gujarat through Assam. A pipe-dream, again!
Is Gwadar commercially viable? I don't think, so. Pakistan has reserved it's place in World as 'Economically Declining' for the next 15-20 years due to it's domestic social restructuring.
What Pakistan got in return from China, for the part of Kashmir, they ceded to China officially? What did they get when they ceded remaining part of Kashmir unofficially. Correct me if intelligence agencies of Western world claim that there are 11,000-15,000 Chinese in Uniform and about 35,000 as workers and laborers, for 20 years, and no visible infrastructure is to be seen, till now!. Is 50,000 army going to withdraw at your request alone? Then you call more Chinese (like Pakistan, every institution in China is Military backed) for various civil projects. Now Chinese comes to Gwadar. Remember me, when I say, they will come at your request, but won't go at your request. When their navy in Gwadar becomes stronger than yours (I mean Pakistanis), tell me who will they obey? Pakistanis or Chinese? Ultimately, they will dictate your Foreign Policy! Hate is good. Even for India.
It has symbolic significance. Think about Sovereignty. To counter Indian naval influence, you invite China. Does India invite US to counter China? No. Even Taiwan and Japan and Philipines don't. Pakistani earns it's self-respect in terms of India, but how the World perceives it? Think about it.
Chinese are swift and prompt in shaping and executing their foreign policy, but weak (weakness that comes through aggressiveness) in diplomacy. They make enemies even faster. Examples are Myanmar, Vietnam (some parts of Africa also) and to some extent, Bangladesh. And now even Iran is becoming suspicious of Pakistan and China.
Chinese game-plans are premature. They have some spare money, some military. But every country has it. Even ask if Brazil or Ukraine are weaker in money or military might? To Chinese: some dancing may bring accolade and praise for you, but a lot of dancing makes you laughing stock in World arena.
Will Chinese go away from Pakistan? When? Will Pakistan go for another Freedom Struggle? Who will help them, then?
My many thanks to China, that India got many diplomatic and cultural friends in South-East Asia. And thanks to Pakistan, if India gets a friend in Iran, without any diplomacy
Why not give the entire reins of the govt, with all its powers to China, so that they can run Pakistan smoothly. Or even better...let Pakistan be a part of China!!!
It is far easier in Pakistan to sell the country than to make new provinces or even build a dam like KBD. All political parties and army will be on the same page if the country is to be sold to China. Pakistanis are happy to loose the country if it can threaten or cause worries to India. This is the only consideration.
On a serious note, I think that Pakistan is worried that the presence of US naval fleet in the region could pose problems after US pulls out its troops from Afghanistan and is counting on China to defend Pakistan.
@Maria: Your president wants China to establish a Naval base at Gwadar. If you look at the examples of US naval bases in other countries (ex: Yokosuka/ Bahrain) they operate virtually as part of foreign soil, much like that of an embassy. Pakistan will have no jurisdiction over this territory, and asking them to vacate will be a serious issue that will cause immense harm to China - Pak relations. Further, China will use its own labor to develop the port, so the local employment that you mention is yet another pipe dream. Instead, you should gift Balochistan to China - they will take a problem off your hands and convert it into Xinjiang in a couple of years.
Some Baloch Nationalists are protesting stating that Gwadar must be giving back to them but do anybody know that Gawadar Was not the Part of Balochistan when Pakistan was created and Infact Pakistan took that land from Sultanat of Oman as Gwadar was an Autonomous state of Sultanate of Oman and Oman transferred its rights to Pakistani Government after Our government gave millions many years ago to buy the whole land from Gulf State.
A thought provoking editorial. Why we cannot run the port ourselves? Are we not, and have we not been, running the Karachi and Qasim ports for years? Is Karachi the same size port that it was when Pakistan was created? Did we not expand it ourselves? Who created and made operational port Qasim?
What this handing over of Gawadar really shows is how totally incompetent and third rate the current ruling cliques are? God only knows what personal gains are involved in this game which is being presented as a great achievement of the current rulers. After all these are the same people who instead of developing the hydro-electric potential of Pakistan went after the IPP's in the nineties with the results for every one to see today. Huge amounts of money were made in these sordid deals at that time - read the news papers of those days and the analyses of the power deals that were struck in favor of the IPP operators.
China is a great friend of Pakistan and would be great beneficiary of the development of the port. But why does Gawadar have to be handed over to them for building of the basic infrastructure? What magic is there in developing this port that we cannot do it ourselves? We do have some of the finest civil engineering construction firms in Pakistan and plenty of first rate civil engineers.
This is also true about the gas pipe line from Iran. Why can we not do that work ourselves? We were able to lay gas pipelines all over Pakistan from Sui and gas fields in SIndh.
Why can we not do this work ourselves? Why? Why? Why?
If Pakistan wants that Baluchistan should progress than this is the right decision, and as far as India is concerned, we damn care as we don't have any aggressive motives and simply why should we care when they are blocking all of our waters by building dams everywhere. We want to take the advantage of being the neighbor of an economic giant, China and a great friend of us.
and as for India, who cares what they do or don’t think. Every Pakistani does. Day in and day out. In all spheres of life. India looms large behind every Pakistani thought, word and deed.
I don't think handing over a non functional port to a foreign nation's management company to manage is giving up on soveignty. US Port authorities have given control of some of their ports to foreign based companies even though they blocked a UAE company for security reasons. If we truly want greater development and investment in Baluchistan for locals, it is imperative that Gwader Port become operational and that locals get first crack at jobs. The Chinese have proved adroit at managing projects of this nature and I am sure they will help establish road and rail links to integrate Gwader. I am sure that Pakistan can come to an arrangement with China if the need came to reassert full Pakistani authority over the Port facilities so it is a win - win situation. I am sure the US understands Pakistan's needs and as for India, who cares what they do or don't think.
Pakistan afraid of India and so to hand over china to keep there naval base