Pak-China corridor: China concerned over Balochistan security
Chinese worried about hostile agencies’ support to Baloch militants
PHOTO: SOUTH ASIAN DAILY
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s worst fears are coming true. The Chinese are worried about the security of their projects in Balochistan promised under the recently agreed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The Chinese authorities have cautioned Pakistan against the threat of Baloch insurgents trying to sabotage the construction of the 3,000-kilometre route across Pakistan in the violence-hit province, a senior security official told The Express Tribune on Friday.
“The Chinese sounded a note of caution soon after reports emerged of foreign agencies’ support to Baloch militants,” said the official, who attended an important meeting at the defence ministry this week to discuss key issues related to the Gwadar Port and the economic corridor.
At the meeting, the officials discussed the concerns of the Chinese authorities which were conveyed directly to the military and civilian leadership after an attack on government-run installations in Gwadar district last month.
Many foreign hostile intelligence agencies could extend support to Baloch militants to sabotage some key projects particularly on the Gwadar to Quetta route where work has already been started, the official said. “The Chinese intelligence agencies have shared with us that RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) is at the forefront to sabotage this project,” he added.
Pakistan has promised extensive security protocols to safeguard Chinese projects in the country in view of a landmark deal between the two countries involving investment worth $46 billion. Nine army battalions and six wings of civilian security forces will be devoted to forming a new security unit to protect Chinese workers and engineers expected to flood into Pakistan, officials say.
An estimated 8,000 security officials are already deployed for the more than 8,112 Chinese working on around 210 projects in Pakistan.
Officials overseeing the security of this corridor said the training regime of the special security division consisting of more than 8,000 military personnel has been finalised. They will guard key projects linked through Hyderabad and Karachi to Gwadar through the N-10 East Bay Expressway along the coastline.
Another 9,000 security personnel (Rangers, Levies, police, scouts) will assist the military in guarding more than 15,000 Chinese workers working along this route. A major-general ranked officer will command the entire unit.
An interior ministry official said the security buffer around Gwadar International Airport, a $230-million project to be started this month, was doubled in the wake of the recent threats. Security at China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital and Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute in Balochistan has also been enhanced.
Security measures will be further tightened as around 7,000 more Chinese workers are expected to arrive in Pakistan for executing the multi-billion projects along the corridor, which will connect Kashgar with Pakistan at Khunjerab – from where China wants to link with the Gwadar port.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2015.
Pakistan’s worst fears are coming true. The Chinese are worried about the security of their projects in Balochistan promised under the recently agreed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The Chinese authorities have cautioned Pakistan against the threat of Baloch insurgents trying to sabotage the construction of the 3,000-kilometre route across Pakistan in the violence-hit province, a senior security official told The Express Tribune on Friday.
“The Chinese sounded a note of caution soon after reports emerged of foreign agencies’ support to Baloch militants,” said the official, who attended an important meeting at the defence ministry this week to discuss key issues related to the Gwadar Port and the economic corridor.
At the meeting, the officials discussed the concerns of the Chinese authorities which were conveyed directly to the military and civilian leadership after an attack on government-run installations in Gwadar district last month.
Many foreign hostile intelligence agencies could extend support to Baloch militants to sabotage some key projects particularly on the Gwadar to Quetta route where work has already been started, the official said. “The Chinese intelligence agencies have shared with us that RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) is at the forefront to sabotage this project,” he added.
Pakistan has promised extensive security protocols to safeguard Chinese projects in the country in view of a landmark deal between the two countries involving investment worth $46 billion. Nine army battalions and six wings of civilian security forces will be devoted to forming a new security unit to protect Chinese workers and engineers expected to flood into Pakistan, officials say.
An estimated 8,000 security officials are already deployed for the more than 8,112 Chinese working on around 210 projects in Pakistan.
Officials overseeing the security of this corridor said the training regime of the special security division consisting of more than 8,000 military personnel has been finalised. They will guard key projects linked through Hyderabad and Karachi to Gwadar through the N-10 East Bay Expressway along the coastline.
Another 9,000 security personnel (Rangers, Levies, police, scouts) will assist the military in guarding more than 15,000 Chinese workers working along this route. A major-general ranked officer will command the entire unit.
An interior ministry official said the security buffer around Gwadar International Airport, a $230-million project to be started this month, was doubled in the wake of the recent threats. Security at China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital and Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute in Balochistan has also been enhanced.
Security measures will be further tightened as around 7,000 more Chinese workers are expected to arrive in Pakistan for executing the multi-billion projects along the corridor, which will connect Kashgar with Pakistan at Khunjerab – from where China wants to link with the Gwadar port.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2015.