Resentment at the Chinese-funded port development at Gwadar in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province has been building for several years and one man is leading an ongoing protest movement.
A Chinese state-owned company has controlled a lead and zinc mine in Duddar in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province since 2014. The mine gives steady work to some locals, paying around $100 a month, which is good for the impoverished area. Other residents just feel exploited.
Local discontent in Balochistan, Pakistan, is rising as the people who live around a gold and copper mine at Saindak feel excluded from the riches coming out of the ground.
The port of Gwadar is once again the scene of protests against Chinese-funded infrastructure. Locals say they are not seeing any benefits and have to endure too many security checkpoints to get around their own town.
The Gwadar seaport was supposed to develop the local economy, connect Pakistan to the world, and give China access to the Indian Ocean. So why aren’t locals happy with it?
The leaders of “iron brothers” met in Beijing and assured each of other of their mutual support, financial and moral.
The Pakistani province of Balochistan is poor and underdeveloped. Have local frustrations with the national government in Islamabad and its “iron brother” in Beijing reached a tipping point?
A foiled suicide bombing against Chinese nationals in Pakistan is yet another attack that rattled Beijing, but will probably also strengthen its resolve.
According to new reports, China is going to build a military base in Tajikistan, and take control of another one. There is no official confirmation yet, but the move shows how much Beijing is worrying about instability from Afghanistan.