SEPARATIST militants in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan are targeting development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to disrupt progress, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Tuesday (27).
The recent attacks, which started on Sunday (25) and resulted in over 70 deaths, are some of the most extensive by ethnic militants in years. These militants are seeking the secession of Balochistan, a resource-rich area that hosts significant Chinese-led projects, including a major port and a gold and copper mine.
"The terrorists aim to halt CPEC and other development initiatives," Sharif said during a televised cabinet meeting, adding that the militants are also trying to create discord between Islamabad and Beijing.
CPEC, with an estimated $65 billion (£49.1bn) in development investments, is a key component of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative.
Despite Balochistan's abundant resources, Pakistan has struggled to develop the necessary infrastructure and has increasingly relied on China for assistance.
China condemned the attacks and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. "China is ready to further strengthen counter-terrorism security co-operation with Pakistan to jointly maintain regional peace and security," said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, at a news briefing. Beijing has previously expressed concerns about the safety of its citizens working on CPEC projects, especially in Balochistan. Six Chinese engineers working on a dam project were killed in March in the northwest.
Separatist militants have also targeted Balochistan's deepwater Gwadar port, which is run by China.
One of the groups, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), took responsibility for this week's simultaneous attacks on police stations, railway lines and highways in the province, the largest but least developed of Pakistan's four.
Hundreds of its fighters, including seven suicide bombers, participated in the attacks, it said in a statement.
Chinese targets have previously come under attack by several Baloch militant groups, who say they have been fighting for decades for a larger share in the regional wealth of mines and minerals denied by the central government. (Reuters)
