The Gwadar killings

The horrific killing of ten Sindhi labourers working on construction projects in Gwadar on Saturday revives many of the initial fears that were raised when it was announced that peace would be brought to Balochistan through development. That ended up taking the form of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has not been accepted from the start by Baloch separatist groups. Responsibility for the Saturday killings was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army, whose message unequivocally stated that this attack should be seen as a rejection of CPEC. Labourers have tragically been targeted in the past as well, specifically those who originate from other provinces and are considered ‘settlers’. There is also a history of Chinese interests being targeted in the province. Before the launch of CPEC, China had withdrawn most of its workers from Balochistan after a spate of attacks on Chinese engineers and labourers in Gwadar and Hub. Gwadar has particularly been singled out because of the perception that the port is being developed only to benefit a non-Baloch elite and that the Baloch people will not get their due share of any proceeds.

Even as the attack in Gwadar was taking place, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in Beijing for a summit on China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative. In his speech, Nawaz warned India that it should not politicise CPEC or create any hurdles in its implementation. But it seems we face a rather glaring problem right at home. So far, our entire focus in Balochistan has been on security. Certainly, no one is in any doubt that workers and sensitive installations have to be protected but this should have been augmented with outreach to the Baloch people. The Baloch separatists may be an unrepresentative minority but there is no denying the depth of nationalist feeling that has been created in Balochistan by its systemic exclusion from the spoils of its own resources. None of that, though, can be used to justify the murder of poor workers. The only way to make things right is by demonstrating to the Baloch that they are equal partners in the country, and for the separatist groups to ensure an end to such acts of violence. The failure to provide security to those working in the province is inexcusable, but so is the political failure to resolve the Balochistan conflict. If the province is to become the hub of Pakistan’s access to the global economy, we will need to find a political solution to the complex security challenges it faces.