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Insh'Allah that female suicide bomber will go to hell. She is hampering Pakistan's progress.The Impact of Terrorist Attacks on China-Pakistan Relations
Since the inception of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), bilateral relationship between China and Pakistan have transformed into a strategic relationship. The multi-billion dollar megaproject is playing an active role in improving the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan. Considered as the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the megaproject is testament to the fact that Sino-Pakistan relations are higher than Himalayas and deeper than ocean. CPEC is proving to be a sign of great efforts and achievement of both the nations and realizing the dream of connectivity and inclusive economic growth.
From April 2015, both China and Pakistan have successfully launched 56 projects related to the CPEC. Up till now, 26 projects, which are approximately US$17 billion, have been completed. On the other hand, 30 projects, which are worth US$8.5 billion are under construction phase. Meanwhile, 36 projects having an estimated cost of US$28.4 billion are also under different stages of negotiations for inclusion in the CPEC framework.
Owing to its strategic importance, Pakistani government is developing an efficient and well-integrated transport and communication system. The primary objective of this system will be to connect remote regions of Pakistan into one road one Asia chain. The improvement of road and railways infrastructure through CPEC will help in integrating Pakistan with the regional countries. Consequently, it will help in generating economic and business activities by integrating its markets with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Apart from improving road and railways infrastructure, the megaproject is actively contributing in creating new industrial hubs. The operationalization of special economic zones in Nowshera, Pishin, and Faisalabad have provided an opportunity for fast tracked industrial development which is pivotal to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Moving beyond, the CPEC is currently been expanded into a number of the following areas which are trade and market access; industrial development and global value chains; socio-economic development and poverty alleviation; agriculture modernization and marketing; sciences and technology cooperation; blue economy; regional connectivity and third world participation.
Pakistani government considers CPEC as a long-term development project. This is owing to the fact that it has the potential to serve as a corridor to connect China with multiple regions like Central Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The government of Pakistan plans to expand the scope of the megaproject because it is viewed as a gateway of prosperity for both countries and the region at large. Therefore, Chinese and Pakistani workforce is employed to ensure timely completion of the infrastructure projects and launch new projects such as the following:
Gwadar, which is considered as the fulcrum of the CPEC, has seen gradual progress under the CPEC. The development of the port city is considered as a priority for the Pakistani government. The commercial, political, socio-economic, and regional connectivity related benefits can be realized once the port city is able to reach its full potential.
- Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6)
- Peshawar-D.I.Khan Motorway (M-14)
- KKH Alternative Route (Gilgit-Shandor-Chitral)
- Swat Expressway (Phase-II)
- Dir Expressway
- Karachi Circular Railways
As part of cooperation under CPEC, Gwadar-related projects have achieved significant progress. In this regard, both Pakistan’s federal government and Balochistan’s provincial government are pacing up efforts for timely completion of the projects in the port city. Subsequently, the master plan of the port city was approved in 2020. The land use regulations notified by Gwadar Development Authority and the project for implementation of the plan is in progress. Similarly, work on New Gwadar International Airport is in progress. Few days ago, Eastbay Expressway project was completed.
On the other hand, Pak-China Vocational and Technical Institute in Gwadar was inaugurated in September 2021. Moreover, Pak-China Friendship Hospital project is still work in progress and is expected to be completed by November this year. 1.2 MGD desalination plant is still in construction process. Meanwhile, measures are been undertaken to pace up Gwadar coal power plant, construction of breakwater and dredging of berthing areas and channels.
With the CPEC entering into second phase, Baloch ethno-nationalist militant groups have paced up their terror activities with the aim to slow down the megaproject and force China to close down CPEC. The use of suicide bombing by Baloch Liberation Army (Bashir Zaib Baloch faction) is an attempt to create fear among Chinese nationals to flee back to the home country.
On April 26, a female suicide bomber, Shari Baloch, detonated herself outside the University of Karachi’s Confucius Institute. Consequently, three Chinese faculty members and their Pakistan driver were killed in the terror attack. The usage of a female suicide bomber by Baloch Liberation Army (Bashir Zaib Baloch faction) has raised questions about the future role of women in Balochistan’s ethno-nationalist insurgency. Two of her cousins are said to be affiliated with Baloch ethno-nationalist militant outfits. Moreover, one cousin, who was associated with Balochistan Liberation Front, was killed in exchange of fire with paramilitary force in 2018.
Following the University of Karachi’s suicide attack, another female suicide bomber, Noor Jahan Baloch, was arrested in Hoshab town of Balochistan. According to Balochistan’s Counter Terrorism Department, the female militant was planning to target a convoy of Chinese nationals at a CPEC-linked highway. Apart from a suicide jacket, nine kilogrammes of explosive substance was also recovered from here.
As part of her interrogation, Noor Jahan revealed that Yasmeen Baloch, wife of deceased Aslam Baloch, is responsible for training female suicide bombers within Majeed Brigade. She also disclosed that there are three more female suicide bombers i.e. Waheeda, Fahmida, and Hameed. Later on, information emerged about 22-year old female suicide bomber Zalia. Resident of Kech district, Zalia is said to be inspired from Shari Baloch. On 29th May, Zalia informed her sister that she is going for suicide bombing mission in Awaran area of Balochistan. Following her mysterious disappearance, Airport Security Force issued security alert at all airports regarding a possible female suicide bomber.
The involvement of Shari Baloch in University of Karachi’s suicide attack has shed public limelight on the role of female militants in Balochistan’s ethno-nationalist insurgency. However, it is important to point out that the role of female militants in the ongoing insurgency has remained largely unexplored. According to security officials, female militants have played an active role in providing logistical support and transferring of funds for Baloch ethno-nationalist militant groups.
In November 2017, three women were detained by security forces for illegal crossing into Chaman, a border city of Pakistan, from Afghanistan. The women were later identified as wife of Dr. Allah Nazer (Balochistan Liberation Front), sister of now deceased Aslam Baloch (Baloch Liberation Army’s splinter faction) and Commander Dileep (Balochistan Liberation Front). They were accused of illegal crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan and distributing funds among militants. In 2008, Baloch Liberation Army detonated an improvised explosive device at a market, which was planted by women.
The tendency of women willing to become suicide bombers is a cause of concern for Pakistani authorities. Based on the leads generated from interrogation of Noor Jahan, it is important that law enforcement and intelligence agencies locate and isolate other female suicide bombers. Similarly, it is important to enhance monitoring of online and offline activities of Baloch Students Organization – Azad. The proscribed outfit is believed to have been approaching Baloch students studying in Punjab-based universities. Moreover, the outfit is also targeting meritorious students at the University of Balochistan to become part of the proscribed outfit.
It is important to realize the fact that ethno-nationalist militant outfits like Baloch Liberation Army (Bashir Zaib Baloch faction) does not represent the population of the province. The trend of normalizing violence should be unacceptable and condemned by every segment of the society. The youth of Balochistan, especially female youths, need role models in the form of doctors, educationists, authors, etc to play an important role in the prosperity of the province.
The use of female suicide bombers by Baloch Liberation Army (Bashir Zaib Baloch faction) is a condemnable act. It is unethical to use women and children for your terror activities that are causing the loss of Baloch youth to a senseless violence. In complete contradiction to Baloch people’s hospitable tradition, guests in the form of Chinese teachers were targeted in an inhumane manner. These teachers played an important role in not only teaching Baloch students but also students from other ethnic groups of the country. Consequently, the graduated students are today playing an active role in development of Pakistan by working in different economic sectors. The terror attack at the University of Karachi’s Confucius Institute reinforces the fact that ethno-nationalist militant groups like Baloch Liberation Army (Bashir Zaib Baloch faction) does not want the youth of Balochistan to get educated. These groups can only operate in an illiteracy driven ecosystem.
Ghulam Nadeem is an Islamabad-based security analyst.