World looks anew on Balochistan as China dreams big

[Edevelop]

Thursday, July 11, 2013 - Islamabad—The world is looking anew on Balochistan as China is making a thumping entry by taking over control of Gwadar Port and agreeing to build an ambitious Gwadar-Kashgar economic corridor in partnership with Pakistan. Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, with an area of 347,190 square kilometres, but sparsely populated with 7.9 million people, has emerged as a vibrant factor when it comes to trade and energy supplies in the region.

Rana Abdul Baqi, an analyst, says Balochistan’s fortunes will be changing as China will make its investments to turn the province into a trade and energy corridor linking Gwadar Port to Silk Route extending into Central Asian states. Growing interest of China in taking advantage of Balochistan’s potential as regional trade hub, has drawn attention of other powerful players, many giving out ambivalent vibes.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif calls Gwadar-Kashgar economic corridor, a game changer, benefitting three billion people in the region. Balochistan province will serve as a transit zone for Iranian natural gas pipeline for Pakistan and Gwadar port is seen as a logistical hub for Afghanistan and Central Asia’s landlocked nations. China, which is partner of Pakistan, in many of its mega strategic infrastructure projects took control of Gwadar port during the first visit to Pakistan by China’s premier Li Keqiang in May.

China’s Overseas Ports Holding Company took charge of the port under an agreement signed in February after buying shares of the Gwadar Port from Port of Singapore Authority (PSA). Talking recently at a conference on Balochistan, Abdul Baqi expressed concern about growing interest of world powers and named intelligence agencies CIA, Mossad and RAW as trouble makers in Balochistan. He said former ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Hussain Haqqani issued visas to thousands of Americans, many of them intelligence operatives of infamous outfit Blackwater.

Gwadar port has assumed great importance in defence strategy of Pakistan. Abdul Baqi reminded that India’s navy, which besieged Karachi port in a war some decades ago, will now get its naval tail extended. Now Gwadar port will be connected to far north of the country through two additional routes including Indus Highway giving more strategic space to Pakistan’s armed forces.

Former army chief General (R) Aslam Beg sees conspiracies all around when it comes to events in Balochistan and is blunt in saying that Pervez Musharraf set the country in wrong direction by aiding an attack on Afghanistan. He stressed that politicians should take lead in effectively administering Balochistan province and resolving grievances of people. Defence analyst and leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Lt Gen (R) Malik Abdul Qayyum holds previous federal governments responsible for creating mess in Balochistan.

He saw Balochistan as a golden bridge connecting land locked states with sea lanes of Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf and trade routes reaching far and wide in East and Central Asia and Middle East. Abdul Qayyum quoted figures of 19 trillion cubic feet of gas and six trillion barrels of oil that go with huge deposits of gold, copper, iron ore, marble, limestone and a wealth of minerals still lying unexplored in Balochistan.

American think tanks like Carnegie Endowment for International Peace mentioned worriness of United States over growing Chinese influence in the region. Pakistani analysts also take note that seven consulates of India are working in areas of Afghanistan close to Pakistan border.—APP

World looks anew on Balochistan as China dreams big

 

[Pakistanisage]

Pakistan is finally leveraging its Geographical location to its advantage.

 

[Kompromat]

@cb4 @Argus Panoptes @muse

The question is, how is Bharat going to respond after tasting the lemon and what should we be prepared for?

 

[Sedqal]

@cb4 @Argus Panoptes @muse

The question is, how is Bharat going to respond after tasting the lemon and what should we be prepared for?

Last time Bharat responded when we fingered them once too much on how we were going to team up with China and circle them. It tells that once one has a good thing going, he out to shut up and not make needless noises.

Everything will be on track till a political govt is in decision making capacity. Once military takes over its downhill from there.

 

[Kompromat]

Last time Bharat responded when we fingered them once too much on how we were going to team up with China and circle them. It tells that once one has a good thing going, he out to shut up and not make needless noises.

Everything will be on track till a political govt is in decision making capacity. Once military takes over its downhill from there.

You are underestimating their capacity to make fuss and noise, after being made to taste lemon. Their planners know quite well,what Pakistan Navy's under construction base in Gwadar is going to be used for.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

indian will create more drama over this

neverthless good news

 

[Sedqal]

You are underestimating their capacity to make fuss and noise, after being made to taste lemon. Their planners know quite well,what Pakistan Navy's under construction base in Gwadar is going to be used for.

Frankly speaking under Musharraf the whole Gwadar thing was mismanaged to an extreme. In Musharraf's era residential schemes mushroomed in Gwadar, where the buyers were mostly non-Baluchs adding fuel to the fire that Baluchs are again being exploited (tons of examples really). Nawaz has been able to bring two of the most respected political parties there in mainstream which means India's capacity to use anti-state elements has certainly decreased.

The only way I see India gaining a foothold again in Baluchistan is if:

1- Military takes over and locals believe that there is no political solution
2- Residential/ Business schemes in and around that area which can create a sense of exploitation.

 

[Edevelop]

@cb4 @Argus Panoptes @muse

The question is, how is Bharat going to respond after tasting the lemon and what should we be prepared for?

Interesting...

Abdul Baqi reminded that India’s navy, which besieged Karachi port in a war some decades ago, will now get its naval tail extended. Now Gwadar port will be connected to far north of the country through two additional routes including Indus Highway giving more strategic space to Pakistan’s armed forces.

According to a Newspaper i read the other day, China has offered to develop Chahbahar Port of Iran, a strategy that wil put India out. If true, it would be good for us.

 

[muse]

Pakistanis continue to delight in the relevance they think they have to the Indian, unfortunately for them, their adversary is not India but a "coalition", India, for a while, will merely be the vehicle of that coalition's will.

Mr. Abul Qaqi (Analyst) offers ""that India’s navy, which besieged Karachi port in a war some decades ago, will now get its naval tail extended. Now Gwadar port will be connected to far north of the country through two additional routes including Indus Highway giving more strategic space to Pakistan’s armed forces - however, Mr. Abdul Baqi needs to be reminded of an entire fleet headquartered in Bahrain, a fleet of a Navy of which Indian Navy is a "Strategic ally".

Interested readers owe it to themselves to read Robert B. Zoellick, former World Bank president, U.S. deputy secretary of state and U.S. trade representative's speech on the "Sun on Shoulders, Wind in Hair"thread -- I don't believe I have read a more clear and through representation of US policy and options before China - if you are in any kind of doubt, the US have made clear to China that unless her policies are altered, China can expect much difficulty -- and the US have a powerful asset in Pakistan Army, the mercenary ethic of which is something China may not be entirely clear about.

 

[Black Widow]

Any Balochistani voice...?

Lets see how will it help Balochistan rather Pakistan..

 

[Argus Panoptes]

@cb4 @Argus Panoptes @muse

The question is, how is Bharat going to respond after tasting the lemon and what should we be prepared for?

Sir, first of all, the article in the OP is pure flights of fantasy, stupid conjecture and unsupported claims.

To answer your question, what India will do there is similar to what it will do in FATA - conduct a proxy war from bases in Afghanistan.

 

[Menace2Society]

I want India encircled and squeezed.

The next steps should be to cultivate their separatist movements and help them to flourish.

I believe there is more potential for insurgency in India than in Pakistan due to demographics, population size and scope of governance.

We must help them to implode from within. This can be achieved in 30-40 years but it is vital for the regional balance of power.

For there to be peace in the region India must die.

 

[Kompromat]

Any Balochistani voice...?

Lets see how will it help Balochistan rather Pakistan..

@DESERT FIGHTER @Irfan Baloch

Please help our 'friend' here.

 

[Kompromat]

@Argus Panoptes

Go through this thread below,enemy's intentions are clear.

www.defence.pk/forums/seniors-cafe/241727-how-make-proxy-war-succeed-baluchistan.html]How to make proxy war in Balochistan successful.

@muse

60% of the USN fleet will be present in the pacefic by 2016.

What you have said is correct,however i doubt that India is stupid enough to join the US in a war against China. It will lead to a nuclear exchange.

Both of you haven't answered the last bit of my question. "What should we do" to deal with India?

 

[Bhai Zakir]

1. Most of the investment things china just talk in the air.

2. Last time after killing of some chinese by terrorists they ran away from the projects.

3. Arabs specially UAE etc. wont allow the gwadar project to be a reality.

4. The fate of the projects lie in the hands of India, if pakistan export the troubles then India will be forced to respond.

5. After this election in 2014 India will have a new prime minister and mark my words no matter which political party he belongs to, RAW will have a free hand.

6. US of A will also not allow china to gain strength near the gulf region.

7. Nobody is god to make everybody a enemy (India, USA, Afghanistan, UAE, Arabs etc.) and still be victorious or in single piece.