Pakistan faces challenges in nation-building due to ethno-nationalist sentiment and ethnic divisions. Baluchistan faces economic and political marginalization due to historical development. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), launched in 2015, aims to develop an economic corridor connecting Kashgar and Gwadar. Despite challenges like COVID-19, the CPEC is making progress, but trade imbalances persist. Baluchistan’s political consensus is needed for CPEC’s success.
Pakistan is a multi-cultural state. Since Pakistan’s independence in 1947, ethno-nationalist sentiment has hindered nation-building efforts and led to resistance and violence. Despite promoting a common religious identity, ethnic differences and ethno-nationalism continue to divide the nation. This has resulted in insurgencies in East Pakistan and the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971. Pakistan is divided into five administrative units named after a predominant ethnic group. Managing this diverse population has been challenging, and the common religious identity is divided into different sects. The Baloch people in Baluchistan have reacted to China’s investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, viewing them as a modern form of colonisation.
The CPEC, largely driven by China, has led to challenges in nation-building but also presents an opportunity to address socio-economic grievances. Pakistan’s state-building process began with minimal administrative capacity and the absence of basic state institutions but has struggled to establish these institutions due to prolonged military regimes and lack of political will. Non-state actors, such as the Baloch Liberation Army and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, continue to question the legitimacy of the state in parts of KP and Baluchistan. Baluchistan, home to the Gwadar Port, has been a case study due to its controversial nature and growing dissatisfaction with the CPEC’s projects. State-building is crucial for nation-building, and Pakistan’s national identity, which is protected by Islam, is often overlooked. Despite being predominantly Muslim, Pakistanis refuse to give up their ethnic identities for national identity, which may affect aspects of the welfare of the state.
According to the World Social Report 2020 by the United Nations, state institutions build trust between the state and its people.
“Without appropriate policies and institutions in place, inequalities concentrate political influence among those who are already better off, which tends to preserve or even widen opportunity gaps. Growing political influence among the more fortunate erodes trust in the ability of Governments to address the needs of the majority. This lack of trust, in turn, can destabilize political systems and hinder the functioning of democracy.”
Baluchistan, a province in Pakistan, has experienced economic and political marginalization due to its historical history. During the British India Raj, the development approach focused on topography and economic potential, with some regions being more developed than others. Balochistan and the princely states, such as Kalat, Makran, Lasbela, and Kharan, remained outside of British infrastructural development plans due to their terrain and lack of economic potential. The federal government neglected the importance of mainstreaming peripheries, leading to structural violence and a lack of development opportunities. Baluchistan’s underdevelopment is largely due to the centre’s negligent policies towards it and domestic politics, with Punjab being a priority for political parties.
Baloch population grievances are linked to concerns about the China-Punjab Economic Corridor (CPEC), which could lead to demographic unbalance due to non-Baloch settlements. Baloch militants have violently reacted to the presence of non-Baloch people in the province, with over 1,200 non-locals killed since the start of the current insurgency. Baloch nationalists believe the CPEC will incentivize Punjabi settlers who have skills to take up jobs in Baluchistan and refer to it as ‘neo-colonialism’ by Punjabis in collaboration with China. The CPEC is often referred to as the ‘China-Punjab Economic Corridor’. Addressing local grievances through confidence-building measures is crucial for the success of the CPEC.
The CPEC, a game changer in Pakistan, aims to achieve economic prosperity and better living standards by addressing local grievances. However, it requires equal benefits for all stakeholders, especially the marginalized in Balochistan. Strengthening state-society relationships is crucial for the success of the CPEC and building a strong nation in Pakistan. Despite several projects in Balochistan, the government struggles to build consensus and win the trust of the Baloch, who view China and Pakistan’s joint efforts with scepticism.
Addressing structural violence in Balochistan is crucial by removing the barriers to the Economic Corridor (CPEC). This violence is a major factor responsible for terrorism in Pakistan’s former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Unequal access to resources and living standards fuels conflict and weakens state-society relations. A balanced modernization approach, prioritizing individual needs, is a foundational principle of the BRI.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), launched in 2015, is a US$62 billion investment from China that aims to develop an economic corridor connecting Kashgar, China, and Gwadar, Balochistan. Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and deteriorated security, the CPEC is making progress. Phase I, which focuses on major infrastructure and energy needs, has completed or near completion projects such as coal-fired power plants and transmission lines. Phase II, industrial and agricultural cooperation, aims to create jobs and establish special economic zones for China-relocated industries in Pakistan.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a significant step towards regional connectivity and economic integration, with Pakistan’s economy being a consumer market and China dominating the CPEC as an investor. Trade imbalances are evident, with Pakistan’s share of exports being only US$3.58 billion. The CPEC focuses on infrastructural development and job creation, but Pakistan faces a shortage of skilled workforce. To address this, initiatives like the Pak-China Technical and Vocational Institute (PCT&VI) in Gwadar have been launched. China is keen to expand the scope of the institute, and in January 2023, China and Pakistan agreed to uplift the PCT&VI. The Gwadar Free Zone is one of the few developmental projects in Balochistan. However, locals face challenges in completing the projects, including the lack of basic utilities and the Baloch separatists who have carried out attacks on CPEC projects.
Baloch insurgents have intensified attacks on security forces, Chinese skilled labour, and infrastructure projects in Balochistan, including the China-funded CPEC. The government’s land acquisition for the CPEC has led to mixed results, with locals selling their lands for job opportunities but the property value skyrocketed after the developmental projects under the CPEC. The displacement of Baloch fishermen and damage to the marine environment have exacerbated existing grievances. The government has used the 1894 Land Acquisition Act to acquire land for the CPEC without consultation with locals. The security challenges and lack of smooth hinterland connectivity for national transit cargo are additional bottlenecks in transforming the Gwadar Port into a state-of-the-art international cargo transit hub.
The CPEC, despite initial reservations, addresses Pakistan’s economic infrastructure needs and future prosperity, addressing the grievances of marginalized groups like the Baloch. However, it depends on the state’s will to develop and sustain political consensus, which can be achieved through union council consultations in Balochistan. The CPEC in Pakistan has had a significant negative impact on nation-building in the country, with the federal government claiming insufficient funds for peripheral areas. Balochistan, a central region in the CPEC, has been overlooked in crucial projects, such as land acquisition for mega projects in Gwadar. The CPEC has also led to direct attacks on the CPEC and Chinese citizens, highlighting the need for urgent action from both Pakistan and Beijing. While China can provide more funds for vocational training and development programs in Balochistan, Islamabad must address local grievances and address historical mistrust of the state. Baloch insurgent groups pose the biggest threat to the CPEC in Balochistan, and security measures alone are insufficient to deal with their opposition, which is reflected in regular demonstrations and terrorist attacks.
