By Asadullah Raisani
There have been several incidents of targeting Chinese citizens or projects involving Chinese in Pakistan, mostly carried out by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents.
The announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) led to an increase in attacks on Chinese nationals. The most recent attack on Chinese engineers in Karachi Airport, killing two Chinese citizens is only one of them. In November 2018, gunmen from the BLA stormed the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, resulting in the deaths of three militants and two police officers. In August 2018, a bus carrying Chinese engineers was targeted in Dalbandin, resulting in five injuries, three of whom were Chinese. The attack was also accepted by BLA. In April 2022, a suicide bomber, Shari Baloch targeted the Confucius Institute at Karachi University in a suicide bombing, resulting in the deaths of four people, three of whom were Chinese instructors.
Even some of the peaceful Baloch activists advocating for constitutional rights oppose the Chinese presence in Balochistan, viewing them as outsiders exploiting the province’s natural resources along with Islamabad. They argue that these resources belong to the local population, and Baloch citizens should benefit the most from the CPEC projects. Complaints about Balochistan’s meager share in CPEC projects and the neglect of the western route in favor of the eastern route have fueled skepticism. This reflects the need to understand the mindset of the common Baloch, who view China’s involvement with mistrust due to perceived imbalances in development.
History stands witness that at different times, various Baloch tribes have taken to the mountains with arms—sometimes against their own Khan, sometimes against the British, and since Pakistan’s creation, against the state. The reasons have mostly remained the same: whenever they believed their rights were denied, they revolted. For instance, in the ongoing insurgency and previous uprisings since 1948, some of the Baloch were convinced that their due provincial autonomy and control over natural resources were being denied by the state of Pakistan. In the current scenario, an additional grievance has emerged due to the Chinese-led projects, which the aggrieved segment of the Baloch community believes are causing demographic changes and threatening the cultural preservation of the land.
A significant majority of Baloch live their lives according to their national code of conduct, known as the Baloch Mayar or Balochiyat. They are taught and witnessed from a very young age to respect and protect their guests, safeguard those under their refuge, and spare no effort in fighting for the cause of the Baloch nation rather than for self-interests. They are instructed not to infringe upon others’ rights or allow anyone to take away their own rights, to protect their Laaj (modesty), Ghairat (honor), Izzat (reputation), and Nang o Namoos (prestige), and to never break Etbar (trust).
Putting this in perspective, it becomes clear why a certain segment of Baloch has never trusted Islamabad. They believe their trust has been broken at various times, and they are being oppressed through enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Many perceive the backwardness of Balochistan as intentional, leading them to view every development in the region with skepticism, seeing it as a means to further exploit the province’s resources rather than genuinely develop it. Even if this perception is not entirely accurate, the mistrust runs so deep that a particular segment of the Baloch population is convinced it is true. This mistrust and resulting hatred have driven them to target any element that has a connection to or loyalty toward Islamabad and the Chinese are no exception.
Then there is a notable lack of connection with Chinese culture in Pakistan in general. People primarily watch movies produced by Bollywood and Hollywood, often subscribing to OTT platforms that feature films from these two sources. Additionally, there is growing access to movies made in Iran and Turkey. However, there is no similar connection between Pakistanis and the Chinese public, which perpetuates skepticism regarding China. This creates a cultural blind spot for the people of the region. The Baloch, in particular, are especially cautious when it comes to China’s strategic vision, as they have no clear understanding of the kind of people they are dealing with. In sum, this cultural difference contributes to the mistrust of the Chinese presence in Balochistan.
The complete lack of communication due to linguistic differences further exacerbates skepticism regarding the Chinese. Throughout much of history, literature has been extremely helpful in understanding the culture and people of specific regions. However, neither the Chinese can read and write Urdu, nor can most Pakistanis read and write Chinese, with rare exceptions. Additionally, the importance and scope of the Chinese language are extremely limited in Pakistan compared to Urdu and English, making its significance lower than that of Urdu and English. The same is true for China, where Urdu has almost no scope.
The growing defamation of China in Western and Indian media, particularly as an oppressive state or one engaged in economic terrorism, or portraying it as an imperialistic power, further fuels skepticism. China is not only portrayed as a force capable of altering the demography of Balochistan but also as a nation that brings bankruptcy and economic turmoil to the countries where it invests. Sri Lanka is often cited as an example in this regard.
However, this is not entirely true. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), of which CPEC is a part, has helped uplift over 40 million people out of poverty so far. It has also created opportunities and facilities for the local population in areas where Beijing has invested in projects under the BRI. The BRI has also fostered a new model of South-South cooperation and enhanced developing countries’ agency in global economic governance. In the case of CPEC, and Gwadar in particular, the Pak-China Friendship Hospital, the establishment of the University of Gwadar, the China-Pak Technical and Vocational Institute, and the completion of over a dozen projects under CPEC in and around Gwadar are related to education, health, and the social sector, all aimed at facilitating the people of Balochistan.
Above all, the Chinese in Balochistan rarely communicate with the locals and live in isolation from the people, leaving the task of communication to Pakistani personnel. While this may be a wise choice from the perspective of security, given the threats to Chinese citizens, it heightens skepticism among the populace—especially in places like Gwadar, where the Chinese are physically present but perceived as invisible ghosts due to their lack of interaction with locals. They live in bunkers and remain distant from the people of the region where they are investing, which continues to raise questions about their intentions in Balochistan.
While foreign involvement in Balochistan cannot be overlooked, understanding the psyche of the Baloch people and developing strategies that align with their perspectives can serve as a constructive starting point for stabilizing the region. Therefore, it is crucial to engage with the Baloch community and understand their code of conduct. A lack of such understanding creates fault lines that external powers can exploit. Keeping the security of the Chinese in mind, they should arrange formal interactions with Baloch. They should start visiting colleges and universities, convey their narrative, and answer the questions of the young lot. They should make their presence visible in the region because their stakes are high here.
The Baloch, particularly the aggrieved segment, should also understand that the Chinese presence in the region will benefit Balochistan in the long run. It is in China’s own interest to hire and develop local talent, as it will save significant time and money. Locals working on these projects will not require separate accommodation, and their presence makes them available almost 24/7. In contrast, outsiders seeking jobs in these projects are often more of a liability, as the investing authority must arrange accommodation for them, they frequently leave for home, and their security costs are an additional burden. This is why educational and technical institutes in Gwadar are part of CPEC projects, aiming to produce individuals who can not only work as laborers but also hold executive positions in these projects.
There is also a need to bridge the linguistic gap between the Chinese and the Baloch. The Chinese movies dubbed in English, should also be dubbed in Urdu and premiered in various cinemas and made available on OTT platforms. Their advertisement and distribution should be efficient, so that people across the country, and especially the Baloch populace in Balochistan, can begin to understand Chinese culture, helping to reduce feelings of alienation. Films featuring cast members from both Pakistan and China, similar to the collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey on the life of Salahuddin Ayubi, can also be considered.
Effective media representation of the Chinese-led projects in Pakistan is essential to address anti-China sentiments. Utilizing social media and both the Chinese and the Pakistani news outlets can highlight regional developments and improvements in living standards linked to these projects. Chinese investors should prioritize investments in health and education in areas like Balochistan, offer more scholarships specifically for Baloch citizens, and enhance cultural exchange programs with the Balochistan government. These initiatives should be actively promoted through media channels to cultivate a positive image of China in Pakistan and foster goodwill among the local population.
As far as the scope and importance of the Chinese language in Pakistan is concerned, that will take time. However, in the meantime, Chinese bestsellers should be translated into Urdu and English and distributed in the libraries of colleges and universities in Balochistan. They should also be made available in various formats, with special discounts.
In sum, the Baloch need to understand that the Chinese are here to stay as they have high stakes here and have already invested billions of dollars under the CPEC projects. While the Chinese also need to keep making efforts to transform skepticism into collaboration and create a future where locals benefit from development opportunities.
Author: Asadullah Raisani – Research Officer Balochistan Think Tank Network, Quetta.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights).
Image Credit: Picture-alliance/Photoshot/L. Tian