Balochistan: Unidentified gunmen launched a brazen attack on the Gwadar port authority complex in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Wednesday, as reported by Geo News. The assailants’ assault was preceded by a blast and culminated in a deadly exchange of fire with security personnel. Two attackers were killed in the retaliatory action, according to the TV channel.
Authorities in Gwadar, including the deputy commissioner and police, have not yet provided official comments on the incident. The port city of Gwadar is strategically located near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route in the Arabian Sea.
The attack on the Gwadar port authority complex is significant due to its association with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major development project under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. The CPEC includes infrastructure projects such as roads and energy initiatives, with Gwadar’s deep-water port serving as a key component.
Despite ongoing security challenges, including a long-standing separatist insurgency, China has made substantial investments in Balochistan as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. This attack is not the first targeting Chinese interests in Pakistan, as in August, gunmen targeted a convoy of Chinese workers in Gwadar. The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for that attack.
The incident underscores the security risks associated with the CPEC and the broader Belt and Road Initiative. Addressing the underlying grievances of local communities, enhancing security measures, and ensuring the safety of workers and infrastructure will be paramount to the success of these projects in Pakistan’s volatile regions.
