On April 26, 2022, the Baloch Liberation Army Majeed Brigade’s “Fidayee” Shari Baloch carried out an attack on Chinese nationals, affiliated with Confucius Institute of Karachi University, killing three Chinese citizens. This attack has given a new dimension to the Baloch movement, as for the first time, a Baloch woman carried out a fidai attack and forced the world to seriously consider that the Baloch are willing to go to any extent to defend their land.
For some years, Baloch armed groups have been targeting China’s interests and citizens directly. The Majeed Brigade has attacked Chinese engineers working on the Sainsak project in Dalbandin, the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, Chinese engineers’ vehicle on in Gwadar, and Chinese teachers of the Confucius Institute in Karachi University. These attacks pose a significant threat to China’s investment in Balochistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Previously, Baloch armed groups had continued their attacks in the style of traditional guerrilla warfare, but the Majeed Brigade’s attacks have intensified the Baloch insurgency.
In an interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News, former President of Pakistan and Chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari, expressed concern about the attacks on Chinese interests by Baloch armed organizations, mentioning the Karachi University incident. On the anniversary of this attack, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was visiting China to meet with the Chinese military leadership, which shows that Pakistan and China are deeply concerned about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and other projects in Balochistan after failing to stop attacks by Baloch armed groups.
For two decades, Pakistan has claimed to end the Baloch liberation movement and restore economic activity in Balochistan. However, armed groups have reiterated that they will not allow foreign investment without the permission of the Baloch nation and have been targeting such projects in attacks, leading to severe difficulties for foreign investment in Balochistan and China in completing their projects.
Regardless of Pakistan’s claims, the objective conditions in Balochistan are not favorable for foreign investment. Without resolving the Baloch problem, the insurgency will continue in Balochistan, and Baloch armed organizations will continue to attack such economic projects. If foreign countries want to continue investing in Balochistan, they must push Pakistan to resolve the Baloch problem and directly engage with organizations and parties associated with the Baloch liberation movement.