The Chinese dedication to the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) despite all the odds and opposition faced on many fronts is a matter generating high level of curiosity. While the two governments are leaving no stone unturned to promote the benefits of the CPEC for Pakistan’s economy, they are finding it increasingly difficult to justify the oppression of local dissent coming from the ethnic group within the region of Balochistan, from where a large portion of CPEC passes.
A research paper published recently by the title, ‘Construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the BRI Vision: Opportunities, Challenges and Countermeasures’ by Wang Junchao, a post-graduate student at the Centre for School of Anti-Terrorism of Northwest Politics and Law University, highlights the way the Chinese view the CPEC, or more appropriately, want to view the project. The existence of CPEC and its completion has been more frequently questioned now as the resistance against it has increased from both within Pakistan and outside it. Pakistan’s domestic security situation with respect to the CPEC has deteriorated, casting a shadow over the completion of its construction. The country’s Balochistan province covers nearly half of its territory and borders two important neighbors, Afghanistan and Iran, being close to the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the paper, the people of Balochistan are about 4 million in number, being the lowest in terms of representation amongst the four main ethnic groups in the country. There is a lack of opportunities available to Baluchis with inadequate rights to participate in the decision-making process. This is because nearly 60% of Pakistan’s administrative resources are under the monopoly of people from the Punjab province, leaving little access for the Baluchis to the Central Cabinet Ministry and other senior positions. Even within Balochistan, only 5% of the police posts are held by Baluchis.
The researcher acknowledges that the province of Balochistan is also one of the most resource-rich regions of the country, a fact that laughs in the face of the low standard of living and conflict-ridden life of the people there. If anything, the strive to exploit resources with the greatest efficiency possible has led to irreconcilable tensions between the central and local governments in the tribal areas. This has led to people feeling increasingly insecure about their future. They have never quite felt as a part of the country, for neither are they included in the development process, nor are their social customs, rules and leaders dealt with any respect. One important example shared by the researcher is that on the 26th of August 2006, Nawab Akbar Bughiti, head of the Baluchi Bugti tribe, former minister of the interior and the governor of Balochistan was brutally executed by General Musharraf, creating a sense of disillusionment and isolation within the community.
It is interesting that this research paper, coming from within China, is well aware that the construction of CPEC has made matters worse for the locals as the focus of Pakistan’s government is now solely on the development of resources without paying much attention to the interests of the people. It is not presenting a solution to any of their major concerns, hence, the opposition. Both China and Pakistan are conveniently terming this continued resistance and fight for their rights as acts of terrorism by the locals. Rather than making an effort to address their grievances, the government of Pakistan is more focused on ensuring the security of CPEC. All resources of both the governments are being employed to deal with the so-called terrorism and unrest. It has been reported that the sight of armed Chinese personnel has become very common in the region. Apart from the construction of CPEC, a great deal of attention is also being paid in impression management, where the mainstream media is entirely dedicated to highlighting the positive aspects of CPEC. There are talks of collusion between the two governments ‘to exchange public opinion information related to CPEC and solidify negative public information into a long-term cause’. Certain communication platforms have also been set up where deliberate attempts are being to use all potential mode, that is, newspapers, social platforms and news media to shape public perception around China’s national image and the BRI initiative. For this purpose, companies such as China International Radio, CCTV News and English channels, as well the Xinhua news agency have set up shop in the region, participating in exchanges with the Pakistani industry, and have achieved considerable success in putting out false and misleading information.
Most media reports and broadcasts focus on the outstanding relation of friendship shared between Pakistan and China and all the economic prosperity CPEC will bring to the former. The attempt is to create an adequate environment for potential settlers around the region where the Gwadar port is being constructed. Gwadar port is one of the primary projects within the CPEC which falls within the province of Balochistan. The Balochi people are therefore rightly demanding their right of ownership and representation in the decisions that are being made about their land and resources. The Pakistani media, no doubt being funded by the Chinese, is completely ignoring this aspect of the game. The plan is to further step up the efforts by building a socialist media confidence that ‘proactively disseminates Chinese voices, and increasingly localizes the projection of Chinese words, gradually integrating the people along the corridor into China’s discourse system.’
The Chinese are focusing on collecting first-line data at the grass roots level in the reporting process to fast gain the support and trust of the people to avoid the ‘complex factors’ affecting the corridor construction. The fact that the entire focus is on avoiding the so-called complex factors rather than addressing them speaks volumes about the intentions of the Chinese. It would in fact be in the interest of Pakistan to address the concerns of the Baluchis, as in the long run, Pakistan cannot progress without including such a large part of the population within the process of development. It is shameful that such a large project is being undertaken by means of oppressing the vulnerable. The people of Balochistan have experienced isolation and oppression for far too long, it is time they are finally given their due share.