Recent mass protests in Balochistan against a China-backed airport project highlight the growing discontent among the local population. The new Gwadar International Airport, part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is set to open soon, but many Baloch residents view it as another instance of exploitation.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a rights group, has organized large rallies across Balochistan, accusing the Pakistani government of unfairly exploiting their natural resources and committing human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. BYC leader Mahrang Baloch claims that foreign investments, including those from China, are directly involved in the “Baloch genocide,” with no tangible benefits reaching the local Baloch population.
The Pakistani military has labeled the BYC as proxies for terrorist and criminal organizations, accusing them of inciting unrest through foreign funding and vandalism. The military’s response has been to suppress the protests, portraying the BYC as victims of their own actions.
CPEC, launched in 2015, aims to enhance trade links between China and Pakistan, connecting China’s western Xinjiang province with the sea via Gwadar. This initiative is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is designed to provide China with an alternative to the Malacca Strait for trade routes. For Pakistan, CPEC promises increased trade, infrastructure, and economic development.
Gwadar, a key location in the project, was chosen for its strategic position near the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian border. The city’s deep-sea port, completed in 2007 and operated by a Chinese company, was intended to become a bustling hub of trade and industry.
However, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s poorest province, and the region has long been plagued by separatist insurgencies. The local population feels that the benefits of CPEC projects are not reaching them and are instead fueling the exploitation of their resources. The security situation in Balochistan is fraught, with numerous terrorism-related incidents reported.
Political analyst Malik Siraj Akbar notes that the protests reflect the deepening discontent in Balochistan, exacerbated by Chinese investments that have failed to address the region’s existing tensions. Journalist Kiyya Baloch adds that the BYC-led movement uniquely features widespread participation by women, a significant shift in the region.
Amid Pakistan’s economic and political turmoil, the protests in Balochistan are also seen as a symptom of broader dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of economic crises, including high inflation and unemployment. The recent rise in protests, including those in Karachi against inflation and unfair taxes, further illustrates the widespread discontent in Pakistan.
Despite these challenges, analysts believe that Pakistan is unlikely to experience a revolution akin to recent events in Bangladesh. Factors such as the country’s ethnic diversity, fragmented political landscape, and the entrenched role of the military establishment contribute to a less unified national protest movement. The military’s strong support for the current government and its recent actions against dissent suggest that while local protests may persist, a nationwide upheaval remains improbable for now.
