Why are these Chinese workers roaming carrying AK47 and other arms China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects? Don't they trust the Pakistan army?
The answer is no. Chinese are rattled with the increasing attacks on their nationals working in CPEC projects in Pakistan. According to unconfirmed reports these workers have been given a “licence” to kill anyone in self-defence.
Though Pakistani foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has rushed to Beijing to pacify the Chinese, it is apparent that Beijing has lost trust and patience with the Pakistani army. After the July 14 deadly attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers to the Dasu dam site in Upper Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which killed nine Chinese nationals, Beijing despatched its own 15-member investigation team, not satisfied with the Pakistani promise of a probe.
The CPEC projects have sparked resentment, particularly among separatist groups who say there have been few benefits for local people. Besides, the jobs that CPEC creates are lost to foreigners, the report said. It also noted that there have been previous attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, including a deadly suicide blast in April at a luxury hotel in Balochistan where the Chinese ambassador was staying for which the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.
China has been expressing anger and frustration with Pakistan regarding lack of security. These complaints are escalating to senior levels of the Pakistan army who are expected to comply with Chinese demands. Pakistan has raised two special security divisions (SSD) to provide protection to Chinese contractors and workers along CPEC which is completely funded by China. Chinese have been spending money on the two Special Security Divisions (SSDs) — the 34 and 44 Light Infantry Divisions — with 15,000 troops each. While the 34 Light Division was created in September 2016, the 44 Light Division was developed in 2020.
Few months back, one Pakistani general had confessed that China has deployed him to crush Baloch movement.
"China has deployed me here to crush the Baloch movement and has given me a six-month task," said Major General Ayman Bilal of the Pakistan Army.
Security of the $64 billion CPEC has already become an issue of contention within Pakistan. Falling short of targets and wracked by incessant attacks on Chinese engineers, staff and assets by Baloch nationalists and Tehreek e Pakistan (TTP) and Gilgit-Baltistan based local groups, China has increased pressure on Pakistan to ensure its success. Much to the dislike of the Chinese, the CPEC has also become synonymous with corruption with the head of CPEC, a Pakistani General, getting involved in corruption scandals directly implicating him and his family.
Given the current situation in Afghanistan, even the western borders of Pakistan have become active, with groups such as ISIS and TTP rampaging against Pakistani troops.
Since the Taliban offensive, the Chinese have been quietly paying the Taliban and the Haqqani Network to keep the lid closed on probable East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) assaults against Chinese interests.
Also Read: Pakistan’s Qureshi heads for China to calm frayed nerves in Beijing over bus terror strike
