‘You cannot separate peace from freedom, because no person can live peacefully until he gains his freedom.’ In the context of the hijacking of the train in Balochistan, the reference to decades of violence, this statement of American human rights activist Malcolm X fits accurate about Balochistan. Balochistan has no peace for decades because the people here do not have freedom. Pakistan has been suppressing the demand for independence of Balochistan since 1947. This is when Jinnah forcibly sent the army to a merger letter from the Nawab of Kalat.
When the spark of rebellion of Baloch Land began to exclude from the control of the Pakistani rulers, the Pakistani rulers, the Pak Army and ISI went to the investment maneuver and called their bosses Chinese. Then started Balochistan’s monkeybant in the name of investment.
In the name of CPEC, the resources here started looting. CEPC was a deal of billions of dollars that both Pakistani and General are getting rich and due to this, China has got a direct entry in Pakistan.
In the chaseboard named Balochistan, there is not only China and Pakistan. Neighboring Afghanistan is also an important character here. Every ruler who sit on the chair of Kabul sees Balochistan with the glasses of his policies.
Therefore, the battle of Balochistan is no longer a matter of Pakistan’s scope. Many international forces are now working in this. Let us understand this political game going on in Southwest Asia.
China’s interest in Balochistan
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which connects Shinjiang province of China to the Gwadar port in Balochistan. Although China-Pakistan calls it an economic project, but it is a strategic and strategic project which is more than economic development.
In 2011, BLA carried out several attacks in Bluechistan by creating a Majeed Brigade and directly challenged the Pak Army. Meanwhile, the Government of Pakistan took a big decision and invited him to invest in Gwadar. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited Pakistan in April 2015, did the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. China is investing $ 60 billion in this project.
What is the importance of $ 60 billion for Pakistan, it can be understood that this country makes many rounds of the World Bank to take a loan of only $ 1-2 billion.
After passing 10 years, now Gwadar Port has started working and the movement of ships has started here.
It is clear that China’s interests are also affected due to any strategic-mating and political movement of Balochistan, rich in mineral resources.
Baloch rebel is opposing CEPC by giving a view to life
Baloch nationalism strongly opposed other foreign powers in CPEC and Balochistan. Baloch rebel groups consider CPEC to be a symbol of the “colonial exploitation” of the Pakistani state. He says that this project exploits the natural resources and land of Balochistan, while the local Baloch community does not get any benefit from it. Baloch rebel groups say that the CPEC project, especially the Gwadar port and the mining project, are exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources such as natural gas, oil, and minerals.
They allege that the benefits from these resources go to the Pakistani government and China, while the people of Balochistan are deprived of basic facilities, education, and health services.
Balochi rebels alleged that CPEC has increased the influx of outsiders in Balochistan, which is endangered by their cultural identity and demographic structure.
To register their protest, Balochi organizations have made suicide attacks on Chinese installations and Chinese engineers in Pakistan many times. Pakistani soldiers remain on its target. These are the major attacks-
Attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi in 2018.
Attack at Gwadar’s Pearl Continental Hotel in 2019.
Suicide attack on Confucius Institute at Karachi University in 2022.
August 2023 – Attack on Chinese engineers in Gwadar.
March 2024 – Fidayeen attack on the convoy of Chinese engineers in Dasu.
Many fidelines and dozens of Chinese citizens who were killed in these attacks also lost their lives.
Recently, when the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Zafar Express, the video of a BLA commander went viral. In this video, this commander is heard threatening China clearly. In this video, this commander says, “This was a clear message to China and Pakistan, immediately leave Balochistan, our leader General Aslam Baloch also warned China, but he refused to hear it.”
Further, this commander says, “China you come here without our consent, supported our enemy … but now it is ours, Bla guarantees that CPEC will fail badly, there are people in Majeed Brigade who are ready to give life for their own. Leave Balochistan. “
China is also ready to interfere
Gwadar has a dangerous situation for China. His billions of dollars are stuck. After the recent attack, China has maneuvering to strengthen its hold in Gwadar. For this, China has taken cover of hijacking of Jafar Express.
Condemning the attack on the Jafar Express in Balochistan, China said on Wednesday that it “Is ready to strengthen anti -terrorism and security cooperation with Pakistan and keep the region peaceful, safe and stable.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said, “We have noticed the reports and strongly condemn this terrorist attack.” “We will continue to support Pakistan strongly in fighting terrorism, maintaining solidarity and social stability and protecting the safety of citizens,” he said.
Afghanistan’s hand in the story of Balochistan
In the story of Balochistan, another angle is also from Afghanistan. Afghanistan cannot be separated from what is happening in Balochistan. Balochistan and Afghanistan have a long -long Durand line range, which connects Baloch and Pashtun tribes. The Pashtun population is high in the northern parts of Balochistan, which is culturally and family associated with the Pashtun communities of Afghanistan.
This has been an area that has been an important corridor for rebels and terrorist groups. The dissatisfaction against Baloch and Pashtun communities against the Pakistani state is decades old. Both these communities seek each other’s help against Pakistan.
The Pashtun community in the northern parts of Balochistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also fails against the Pakistani state. PTM, an organization of Pashtuns, has launched a movement against military repression, forced disappearance, and atrocities on citizens. This movement is non -violent, but it has given birth to political consciousness among Pashtun youth.
A potential alliance between Baloch and Pashtun communities is a major challenge for the Pakistani state. If both these communities are united, the rebellion could be more widespread.
Pakistani security agencies claim that Baloch rebel groups, such as Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Republican Army (BRA), form their hideouts in Afghanistan. They use these bases to plan attacks, smuggle weapons and attack Pakistani security forces.
Giving information about the operation started against the Hijanking of Jafar Express, Pakistan Army spokesman General Le General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary said that the attackers were in touch with their supporters and masterminds in Afghanistan through satellite phones during the operation.
After the operation was over, ISPR stated that “intelligence reports clearly confirmed that the attack was conducted and directed by terrorist leader operated from Afghanistan, who were in direct contact with terrorists throughout the incident.” He has demanded action against such elements from the interim government of Afghanistan.
Battle of Balochistan is no longer under Pakistan’s control
The internal weaknesses of the Taliban, the interest of regional powers, and the determination of Baloch rebels complicate the issue of Balochistan.
In Baloch Land, so many regional and international forces have been gathered that now it is no longer a matter of Pakistan to resolve this issue. Baloch separatists have already been raising this issue in international forums. Not only this, in 2016, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi also mentioned Balochistan in his Independence Day address.
Social support for the movement from China’s huge investment, complex security situation, Pashtun dissatisfaction and Baloch-Pashane alliance shows that Pakistan can no longer resolve this issue alone.
If Pakistan sits on the table of conversation on this issue, then it will also have to take care of the interests of Afghan interests, Chinese investment, Pashtun and Baloch rebels.