Pakistan’s military has confirmed that it has raised two new division-size security settlements solely dedicated to protect multi-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Balochistan. This is in addition to increasing paramilitary troops’ units from one to two.
The security enhancement assurances were given to China amid increased attacks on projects related to CPEC by Baloch armed groups. In one such attack on Thursday, a vehicle belonging to a construction company working on CPEC project was targeted with an IED in Khuzdar. The attack was claimed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which is behind numerous attacks on Chinese and Pakistani interests in the region.
Director General of the Pakistani military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations, Major General Babar Iftikhar has told Chinese news agency Xinhua that: “we have raised two division-size security settlements which are dedicated to providing security to CPEC, besides that, we have increased the number of paramilitary troops’ units from one to two in the province to ensure security.”
The recent steps have been taken to provide more security to CPEC projects and enhance security in the whole region to ensure smooth work at CPEC projects after recent attacks on the facility, reported Xinhua.
Earlier credible sources had suggested that large-scale operations were inevitable in Balochistan as military had increased troops movement in various areas. According to reports, the purpose of military operations is to protect the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and obstruct the current rise of attacks on army by insurgents. The decision of military operation comes after the recent attacks on Pakistan Army and installations on CPEC route in Makran region, and massive attacks on army camps in Bolan and Kahan region of Balochistan by BLA.
BLA’s Majeed Brigade was also behind at least four suicide attacks on Chinese interests in the region. In August 2018, a bus carrying Chinese engineers was attacked by BLA in Dalbandin. This was followed by another suicide attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi in November 2018. In May 2019, a complicated and massive attack was launched at a luxurious hotel frequented by Chinese officials in Gwadar. This was followed by another attack by the same group on Pakistan’s Stock Exchange in Karachi, where China owns nearly 50% of the equity. Dozens have died and injured in these attacks.
Earlier last week, Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, leader of another armed group Balochistan Liberation Front had also warned China to “stop and back off” from its activities in Balochisan. In a video message the Baloch leader said that Baloch will never allow China to use the coast of Baloch for military purposes against neighbouring countries.
“I want to call upon China that you, along with your financial interests, want to use the coast of Baloch for military purposes to pose a threat against the neighbouring countries as well as the rest of the world through the hot waters of Balochistan. But the Baloch nation will never permit it,” he added.