Baloch politicians, activists, human rights organizations, and residents continue to express strong opposition against the fencing of Balochistan’s Gwadar city. Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch activist, voiced her concerns on the social media platform ‘X’, questioning the motives behind the current security measures.
“You cannot secure an investment by locking up more than 100,000 people in a cage. Humiliating them, restricting public movement, denying fishing rights in the open sea in the name of security, and constantly questioning individuals after every kilometer of travel about where they are coming from and where they are going is not security; It is humiliation in the name of security,” Dr. Baloch stated.
She further highlighted the geopolitical motivations behind the security measures, accusing China of trying to assert control over Gwadar at any cost, with the complicit support of Pakistani decision-makers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. “The core problem is that China wants to take control of Gwadar at any cost, and the decision-makers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are stakeholders in Chinese investment,” she explained.
Dr. Baloch also criticized the role of local governance structures, stating, “China influences federal government policies regarding Gwadar, bypassing the indigenous people. The Balochistan Assembly merely acts as the agent of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.”
She warned that the oppressive measures being implemented would likely incite public resistance, reminiscent of historical opposition to foreign control. “These oppressive security measures will inevitably provoke public resistance, as seen in the past and bound to repeat. It’s now widely recognized that China’s involvement in Gwadar is akin to the East India Company, with Islamabad and Rawalpindi as stakeholders, and the Balochistan Assembly as their proxy,” she said.
Dr. Baloch concluded by reflecting on the ongoing developments and their implications: “The investment model is flawed, and it’s evident that no lessons have been learned.”
Another local leader, Sibghatullah Shahji, also spoke vehemently against the fencing, saying that no construction, whether fences or even something as formidable as the Great Wall of China, can deter the Baloch from defending their land. “This fence will prove to be a bloody line. They think by erecting fences, they can erase the Baloch from Gwadar, fulfilling their long-standing desire, but the Baloch will never let this succeed,” he said.
Sibghatullah further criticized the state’s developmental claims as exploitative and deceitful. “Repeatedly, they flaunt the idea of developing Gwadar, intending to exploit the entire minerals of Balochistan including the Baloch Sea in their name, which is a deception against the Baloch. I unequivocally state that the Baloch do not need any development offered by the state; these beggars are alive and operating because of Balochistan. What development can they possibly provide to the Baloch?” he expressed vehemently.