World powers, especially the US and Russia have always remained deeply interested in Balochistan because of its strategic location, a long coast of warm waters and huge mineral reserves. The USSR had planned to access the ‘warm waters’ of the Arabian Sea through Balochistan and for that purpose it invaded Afghanistan in 1979. However, the plan misfired and the severe resistance of Afghans resulted in the disintegration of the USSR. Moscow in the meanwhile, had also been supporting movements of ‘independent Balochistan’ and ‘independent Pashtunistan’ to advance its geo-strategic interests.
After the 9/11 America had used airbases in Balochistan for logistical support during its invasion of Afghanistan and US warplanes taking off from the US aircraft carriers stationed in the Arabian Sea also used the air spaces of Balochistan for their strikes on Afghanistan. Americans remain deeply interested in the Gwadar Deep Seaport project of Pakistan. They can not tolerate Chinese presence in the project if the project is completed at all costs. So, an unending series of attacks and sabotage activities started in the province after the port project could not be derailed through international pressure. The violence mostly targeted Chinese experts engaged in different projects of Balochistan including the Gwadar Deep Seaport, Lasbella Zink Project and Sandak Copper-Gold Project.
First of all, a car bomber killed several Chinese technicians in Gwadar but they did not abandon the development work and completed it before the due date. Then some Chinese nationals working at a cement plant were attacked and killed followed by another strike in Karachi that also killed several Chinese workers.
After the completion of the first phase of the Deep Seaport, a costal highway has also been built linking Gwadar with Karachi and now it is being extended to the Iranian border. The second phase of the seaport project has been started and a world-class airport is also being built with the Chinese assistance. The world powers are seeing the Gwadar port as a military venture instead of a commercial project. Some countries including India, want China out of all development projects of Balochistan.
In a historic perspective, Pakistan had started replacing American F-6 fighter jets with Chinese F-7 from Smagli Airbase in Quetta. That is why, the cooperation between Pakistan and China in the development projects of Balochistan is seen only in the military and strategic terms. Besides Pakistan’s nuclear installations, foreign powers are closely monitoring the activities around the Gwadar Port through satellites.
Indian secret service RAW has established eleven terrorist training centres in the form of consulates and ‘information centres’ in Kadhar, Jalalabad and other cities close to Pakistani border. These ‘information centres’ are involved in spoiling relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan by regularly sending trained guerrillas into Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan for sabotage activities. The recent launch of an Israeli satellite from Srihari Kota Launching Centre in Andhra Pardesh was aimed at monitoring both Pakistan and Iran. The Israel Aerospace used the latest space technology while designing the ‘Taksar’ satellite that has the ability to continuously monitor even in the worst weather. Several other Israeli satellites are already in space for monitoring many countries of the region. There are reports that Tel Aviv has planned to send two more satellites with the cooperation from India.
Amid increasing ‘unease’ about the development of Gwadar Deep Seaport, Indian Naval Chief Admiral Suresh Mahitta has said that the Gwadar port can create many ‘strategic complications’ for India because it is just 180 nautical miles away from the international energy route the straits of Hormuz and Pakistan could block Indian oil tankers. He says that China wants to set many naval bases to secure the route for its energy supplies in the Indian Ocean and Gwadar is one such base. The Indian naval chief said the Coastal Highway between Karachi and Gwadar is being linked with Karakoram Highway and thus China will have a direct access to the Indian Ocean. India now faces the challenge to avoid confrontation with China in the strategically important Indian Ocean. After the statement of Indian naval chief, it has been proved beyond doubt that India is deeply interested in Balochistan and is directly involved in the sabotage activities going on there. Pakistan has provided documentary proofs to India of its involvement in Balochistan at foreign ministers level. Former President Musharraf has also revealed during an interview to a Singaporean newspaper that India is providing arms and money to insurgents in Balochistan.
The Gwadar Deep Seaport project has the commercial and strategic importance for Pakistan. After the construction of this port, India is no more able to impose an economic blockade of Pakistan as she did in 1971. India feels that Gwadar port is a part of China’s worldwide naval programme “Chain of Jewels”. According to this programme, China is setting up naval bases around the world to monitor its commercial activities and ensure Chinese strategic naval presence everywhere in the world. That is why America, India and other world powers are concerned over this project and they are likely to do a lot more to derail the project.
~~Army of Sheep headed by a Loin is batter than Army of Loins headed by a Sheep~~
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