China-Pakistan nexus and future of Baloch struggle

By Qaazi Baloch

China and Pakistan are considered the closest friends in the region of Southeast Asia. No doubt, China has economic and militarily interests but the region where China is investing more than 50 billion dollars is the lifeline of United States of America because of the Strait of Hormuz. Beside this relation of China and Pakistan, the government of China remained neutral in the meeting of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which has taken place in France where the US and its allies pushed for putting Pakistan in ‘grey list’.

China impartiality wasn’t meaningless because China basically wanted to protect its interest in Pakistan and in rest of the world; if China had acted against Pakistan then government of Pakistan might have reacted against China. likewise, if China ignored the world great powers then it would be a political as well as a diplomatic blunder by China and would put China’s interests at risk elsewhere. It means China has adopted the theory of realism as the realists believe that there are no any permanent foes and permanent friends the only permanent thing is the national interest.

However, a new research which has been conducted on OPEC mentions the following threats of CPEC.

1. The United States of America is a big threat for China because China wants to have a control over Strait of Hormuz, as it has been mentioned earlier, which is the lifeline of United States. More importantly, the US Navy is already present in the Indian Ocean where China is making a new Naval Base in the territory of Balochistan at Jiwani. That sea is connected to the Indian Ocean.
2. Baloch insurgency is one the biggest threat for CPEC. The Baloch insurgents are fighting against Pakistan for the independent of their motherland Balochistan. According to pro-freedom Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri, Balochistan was an independent state but it has been subjugated by the Pakistani military on 27 March 1948, since that day Baloch have been striving to regain their independence.
3. Taliban, especially TTP and Jamat-e-Ehraar are also challenging the corridor. They exist almost in four provinces of Pakistan.
4. India has been claiming over the territory of Kashmir and these areas which are disputed where the CPEC road is being built. India as being one of the allies of United States also is considered a threat to the trade of China and Pakistan.
5. The fifth threat is mentioned by the researcher that the Xinjiang province of China where Turkic Uyghur people are also fighting for their independence and CPEC road to Kashgar city of China passes through this restive region.

It clear that the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) is less likely to succeed due to the threats mentioned above. There are also growing concerns in some quarter of Pakistani diplomats about China’s permanent presence in the region. Therefore the future Baloch struggle is bright but the success of Baloch pro-freedom forces (armed and political groups) depends on their unity. They need to unite and fight collectively against their common enemies, (Pakistan, China and Iran). The pro-freedom party and resistance organisations need to agree upon and accept the Charter of Liberation [Balochistan Liberation Charter] and to choose one intellectual as their leader then they can easily achieve their common goal or end.

If one part of the Balochistan gets independence then the second part also should be free which currently occupied by Iran. As pro-freedom Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri clearly states in his statements that Iran and Pakistan are the common enemies of Baloch and Baloch people have to resist against both coloniser and religious terrorist countries which have created several Jihadist Organizations [to counter Baloch national liberation movement].

Finally, the Baloch leadership must realise that the world never supports Baloch nation if they don’t have interest in Baloch because the theory of realism practically exists in the world. The Baloch nation should mainly rely on their own strength but if any other nation of the world is willing to support them, they should not waste the opportunity to benefit from the chance given to them. As the saying goes in the real world, ‘there are no permanent foes/enemies and no permanent friends the only permanent thing is the national interest.’