China’s Premier Li Qiang recently visited Pakistan to attend a regional security meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. During his visit, Li inaugurated a Chinese-funded airport in Gwadar, Balochistan, as part of a massive investment by Beijing to connect the deep sea port and airport with China. The airport inauguration comes after two Chinese workers were killed in a terrorist attack outside Karachi’s airport, targeting projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The separatists in Balochistan, who accuse the Chinese and others of economic exploitation, are opposed to the project. Despite the security concerns, Li and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed agreements to boost economic and trade ties between the two countries. Li reassured Pakistan of China’s commitment to continue working on joint economic projects, including the Gwadar airport, built and modernized in Balochistan in just five years. Sharif expressed gratitude for China’s support and assured the safety of Chinese workers in Pakistan.
The Gwadar airport is one of the largest in Pakistan and is part of the $75-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which includes a 3,200-kilometer road linking China to Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. The opening of the airport coincided with ongoing investigations into the killings of the Chinese workers in Karachi. Chinese investigators have been sent to Pakistan to meet with authorities and ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects. Meanwhile, violence continues in Balochistan, with recent killings of coal miners and a police attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Islamabad is also attended by representatives from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Iran and India. The meeting focuses on boosting security and economic ties between member states, founded by Russia and China to counter Western alliances. Pakistan has increased security measures in the capital, deploying troops and banning rallies amid the volatile security situation in the region. The collaborative efforts between China and Pakistan aim to strengthen economic and trade relations, despite the challenges posed by security threats in the region.
