Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that recent militant attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan are aimed at disrupting the development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The prime minister stressed that the attacks, which began on Sunday and resulted in over 70 deaths, were part of an effort by separatist militants to undermine cooperation between Pakistan and China. Sharif addressed his cabinet.
“The terrorists want to stop CPEC and development projects,” he said, adding that the militants also aim to strain relations between Islamabad and Beijing.
CPEC, with investments reportedly worth $65 billion, is a significant component of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Balochistan, rich in natural resources yet impoverished, has long been a hotspot for ethnic separatist movements. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the recent assaults on police stations, railway lines, and roadways around the province. The BLA has been pushing for increased regional autonomy and a larger portion of the area’s natural resources, which they claim the central government is withholding.
The province is also home to major China-led projects, including the strategically important Gwadar port and a significant gold and copper mine. China’s involvement in these projects has made Chinese nationals and assets frequent targets of militant groups in the region.
In response to the attacks, Beijing condemned the violence and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations.
“China is ready to further strengthen counter-terrorism security cooperation with the Pakistani side to jointly maintain regional peace and security,”Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said.
China has previously expressed concerns about the safety of its citizens working on various projects in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan. The tensions it the region have led to multiple incidents, including the killing of six Chinese engineers who working on a dam project in the northwest in March.
Gzero, U.S. News & World Report and Reuters contributed to this report.
