Is Balochistan turning into an arena of geopolitics?
By Syed Fazl-e-Haider
THE situation in Balochistan indicates that the province seems to be turning into an arena of global energy politics. The control of oil and gas reserves and the pipelines that will transport the product to the world markets through the Baloch territory seem to be emerging as the future name of the game.
Seen in the context of global energy politics, the prevailing unrest in the province gives rise to many questions. How does a volatile Balochistan serves the US strategic interests? The policy-makers in Pentagon have been giving much weight to Pakistan in their strategic planning for Asian region because of its geo-strategic location. Pakistan owes its geopolitical importance largely to its largest province- Balochistan.
From Balochistan, the US can keep a watch on Iran, Afghanistan and China with the help of modern technology. The District Chaghi and Mekran bordering Iran are the location where Chinese are engaged in development projects-Saindak copper mining and Gwadar port.
Since 1973, the strategic planners in Washington have their eyes on Balochistan to advance their regional and global agenda. United States, Russia, China, Iran and India are currently the major players in the global energy game.
They are actively engaged in competing for influence and the riches that will come with control of the oil resources. More importantly, Balochistan is the province from where the multi-billion-dollar gas pipelines would be the route for transportation of oil to destinations worldwide.
Gwadar, a coastal town in southern Balochistan, would be the terminus of gas pipelines reaching either from Daulatabadââ¬â¢s fields in Turkmenistan, South Pars fields in Iran, or from Qatar. The proposed TAP gas pipeline would involve construction of a pipeline about 1,700 km up to Gwadar. From Gwadar, this gas would then go onto the world markets. U.S oil firm, the Unocal had led efforts for building the trans-Afghan link for opening up the Central Asiaââ¬â¢s gas reserves to a wider world.
The deep-sea port at Gwadar and future plans for important cross-national oil pipelines further enhance the regionââ¬â¢s strategic value. Gwadar lies just 624 nautical kms to the east of Straits of Hormuz through which 40 per cent of the worldââ¬â¢s oil passes. About 80 per cent of Chinaââ¬â¢s oil imports flow through the narrow Strait of Malacca. Certainly, Gwadarââ¬â¢s location provides China an alternate to Strait of Malacca.
Through Gwadar, Russia can export its energy to the world markets. Some analysts are of the view that President Musharrafââ¬â¢s visit to Moscow in 2003 was aimed at ensuring Russian participation in the exploitation of the regionââ¬â¢s vast oil and gas resources. Islamabad offered Moscow the access to warm waters through Gwadar port. Pakistan can build LNG terminals in Gwadar.
At present, different Chinese firms are engaged in developing key sectors of Balochistanââ¬â¢s economy including infrastructure, mining, oil and gas exploration. The Chinese have invested about $230 million, which is more than 50 per cent of the total Chinese investment in the country. The growing Chinese stake in the province has created anxiety among various players of geopolitics in the region.
Many observers believe that Washington and the New Delhi despise to see Chinaââ¬â¢s presence based in Balochistan, especially at Gwadar. The US not only wants to use Balochistan as its strategic base against Iran but also pre-empt China from acquiring more stakes in the province.
The quest for energy security has made India and China as competitors in the global energy game. India is rated as the worldââ¬â¢s number six energy consumer. As a competitor of China, India is engaged in developing Chahbahar port in Iran that also provides it access to the landlocked countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan, bypassing the Pakistani territory.
As a matter of fact, India sees Chahbahar port facilities as her main entrepot for energy and commercial trade with Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caspian region. With Chinese involvement in Gwadar and Indians in Chahbahar, the two ports are likely to emerge as ââ¬Ëstrategic competitorsââ¬â¢ in the region. An Indo-US nexus has been established in Afghanistan.
Now officials say that Afghanistan is being used as frontline base against Pakistan for fuelling unrest in its largest province of Balochistan. Afghanistan is under occupation of the American forces. Will Balochistan emerge as frontline province in US war against Iran serving the US strategic interests for the third time? The Tehranââ¬â¢s nuclear challenge may lead to a US invasion of Iran. In case of American attack, according to some political observers, the Balochistan may be used to facilitate the US advances against Iran.
US plan of attacking Iran also springs from its concerns over the Pak-Iran plans to build a gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan. Recently, the US State Department official Steven Mann told a forum in Washington that the US administration remained ââ¬Åabsolutely opposedââ¬Â to pipelines involving Iran.
Fairly speaking, no one in Balochistan is against the ongoing process of economic development. What irks the local population is their technological and economic backwardness and a long history of the discrimination and injustices. The Balochis want an equitable share in the fruits of development of their province.
A confrontational approach and the use of force by the government to solve political problems in the domestic milieu will give an opportunity to the external forces to create destabilistion. The rulers must show prudence, statesmanship and political acumen to tackle the prevailing situation in Balochistan. A divided nation cannot face external threat. The path to political stability lies in national reconciliation.
http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/11/ebr14.htm
By Syed Fazl-e-Haider
THE situation in Balochistan indicates that the province seems to be turning into an arena of global energy politics. The control of oil and gas reserves and the pipelines that will transport the product to the world markets through the Baloch territory seem to be emerging as the future name of the game.
Seen in the context of global energy politics, the prevailing unrest in the province gives rise to many questions. How does a volatile Balochistan serves the US strategic interests? The policy-makers in Pentagon have been giving much weight to Pakistan in their strategic planning for Asian region because of its geo-strategic location. Pakistan owes its geopolitical importance largely to its largest province- Balochistan.
From Balochistan, the US can keep a watch on Iran, Afghanistan and China with the help of modern technology. The District Chaghi and Mekran bordering Iran are the location where Chinese are engaged in development projects-Saindak copper mining and Gwadar port.
Since 1973, the strategic planners in Washington have their eyes on Balochistan to advance their regional and global agenda. United States, Russia, China, Iran and India are currently the major players in the global energy game.
They are actively engaged in competing for influence and the riches that will come with control of the oil resources. More importantly, Balochistan is the province from where the multi-billion-dollar gas pipelines would be the route for transportation of oil to destinations worldwide.
Gwadar, a coastal town in southern Balochistan, would be the terminus of gas pipelines reaching either from Daulatabadââ¬â¢s fields in Turkmenistan, South Pars fields in Iran, or from Qatar. The proposed TAP gas pipeline would involve construction of a pipeline about 1,700 km up to Gwadar. From Gwadar, this gas would then go onto the world markets. U.S oil firm, the Unocal had led efforts for building the trans-Afghan link for opening up the Central Asiaââ¬â¢s gas reserves to a wider world.
The deep-sea port at Gwadar and future plans for important cross-national oil pipelines further enhance the regionââ¬â¢s strategic value. Gwadar lies just 624 nautical kms to the east of Straits of Hormuz through which 40 per cent of the worldââ¬â¢s oil passes. About 80 per cent of Chinaââ¬â¢s oil imports flow through the narrow Strait of Malacca. Certainly, Gwadarââ¬â¢s location provides China an alternate to Strait of Malacca.
Through Gwadar, Russia can export its energy to the world markets. Some analysts are of the view that President Musharrafââ¬â¢s visit to Moscow in 2003 was aimed at ensuring Russian participation in the exploitation of the regionââ¬â¢s vast oil and gas resources. Islamabad offered Moscow the access to warm waters through Gwadar port. Pakistan can build LNG terminals in Gwadar.
At present, different Chinese firms are engaged in developing key sectors of Balochistanââ¬â¢s economy including infrastructure, mining, oil and gas exploration. The Chinese have invested about $230 million, which is more than 50 per cent of the total Chinese investment in the country. The growing Chinese stake in the province has created anxiety among various players of geopolitics in the region.
Many observers believe that Washington and the New Delhi despise to see Chinaââ¬â¢s presence based in Balochistan, especially at Gwadar. The US not only wants to use Balochistan as its strategic base against Iran but also pre-empt China from acquiring more stakes in the province.
The quest for energy security has made India and China as competitors in the global energy game. India is rated as the worldââ¬â¢s number six energy consumer. As a competitor of China, India is engaged in developing Chahbahar port in Iran that also provides it access to the landlocked countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan, bypassing the Pakistani territory.
As a matter of fact, India sees Chahbahar port facilities as her main entrepot for energy and commercial trade with Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caspian region. With Chinese involvement in Gwadar and Indians in Chahbahar, the two ports are likely to emerge as ââ¬Ëstrategic competitorsââ¬â¢ in the region. An Indo-US nexus has been established in Afghanistan.
Now officials say that Afghanistan is being used as frontline base against Pakistan for fuelling unrest in its largest province of Balochistan. Afghanistan is under occupation of the American forces. Will Balochistan emerge as frontline province in US war against Iran serving the US strategic interests for the third time? The Tehranââ¬â¢s nuclear challenge may lead to a US invasion of Iran. In case of American attack, according to some political observers, the Balochistan may be used to facilitate the US advances against Iran.
US plan of attacking Iran also springs from its concerns over the Pak-Iran plans to build a gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan. Recently, the US State Department official Steven Mann told a forum in Washington that the US administration remained ââ¬Åabsolutely opposedââ¬Â to pipelines involving Iran.
Fairly speaking, no one in Balochistan is against the ongoing process of economic development. What irks the local population is their technological and economic backwardness and a long history of the discrimination and injustices. The Balochis want an equitable share in the fruits of development of their province.
A confrontational approach and the use of force by the government to solve political problems in the domestic milieu will give an opportunity to the external forces to create destabilistion. The rulers must show prudence, statesmanship and political acumen to tackle the prevailing situation in Balochistan. A divided nation cannot face external threat. The path to political stability lies in national reconciliation.
http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/11/ebr14.htm
