Pakistan's port city of Gwadar, the hub of the mammoth $62 billion infrastructure project known as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is in a siege-like situation amid unrest caused by a crackdown against protesting Balochs.
The city faced a blackout of mobile and internet communications for almost a week. While the mobile networks have been restored, the internet has been shut down since December 28, according to the Diplomat.
The unrest erupted when police raided a sit-in protest camp and arrested members and leaders of the Haq Do Tehreek Gwadar (HDT) meansGive Gwadar Its Rights Movement. This was followed by mass demonstrations against the crackdown of the police and paramilitary forces.
The HDT movement is led by local leader Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman. In November 2021 HDT unveiled 17 demes whichinclude an end to illegal trawling in the sea off Gwadar's coast, a reduction of security checkpoints in the region, recovery of missing persons, and an easing of curbs on border trade with Iran.
Gwadar, with its deep-water port, is a fulcrum for Pakistan and China's economic development projects, earning it the title of the "crown jewel" of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The city is often envisioned as a future Dubai in the region.
Media reports suggest that there are fewer than 500 Chinese in Gwadar, all based in the Gwadar Port compound.
Chinese citizens are facing increasing threats from different militant groups in Pakistan, with a rise in recent incidents of targeted attacks on China nationals. The growing anti-China sentiment in Gwadar may adversely impact the progress of key CPEC projects, say reports.
Balochi, Sindhi militants unite
Tellingly, anti-China Balochs have found a new partner - a separatist organization in Sindh, which also plans to oppose the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
Balochistan already has the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) which have been fighting for independence from Pakistan. Now these four have joined hands with the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) to form the Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS), with the aim of opposing the CPEC, which they say is exploiting the local people to benefit the Punjab-dominated areas.
A statement by BRAS said: "Through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan and China aim to subjugate Sindh and Balochistan to acquire their illegitimate political, economic and militaristic interests and want to occupy the coasts and resources from Badin to Gwadar."
The massive CPEC that runs through the entire length of Pakistan including Gilgit-Baltistan.
17 demands
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