The Government of Pakistan has approved an additional budget of Rs 45 billion for the armed forces, aimed at enhancing their capacity to secure Chinese commercial interests within Pakistan and bolster border security.

The decision was made during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to the meeting details, Rs 35.4 billion will be allocated to the army, while Rs 9.5 billion will go to the navy. These funds are part of a technical supplementary grant for pre-approved defense services projects for the current fiscal year.

This budget allocation marks the second significant supplementary grant for the armed forces since the federal budget’s approval in June. Previously, the ECC had allocated Rs 60 billion for “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.” These supplementary grants are in addition to the Rs 2.127 trillion defense budget.

The ECC also approved an additional Rs 16 billion for the Special Security Division South, which is responsible for safeguarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Security Concerns and CPEC

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major infrastructure project in Pakistan, launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, with increasing security challenges, including armed attacks, China has urged Pakistan to sign an anti-terrorism cooperation agreement to address the situation.

China has also proposed the establishment of a joint security company to ensure the safety of its citizens currently working in Pakistan and those who will be involved in upcoming phases of CPEC. Additionally, China has suggested the inclusion of mobile security equipment and the development of projects involving ballistic protective vehicles.

Baloch Opposition and Armed Resistance

CPEC has faced criticism from Baloch political groups, who argue that the project exploits local resources without providing benefits to the indigenous population.

These groups claim that the development has disrupted the lives of Baloch residents, depriving them of essential needs like healthcare, education, and access to clean water. According to critics, CPEC is seen not as an economic development project but as a “military and imperial venture” aimed at expanding China’s regional influence.

Meanwhile, Baloch “pro-independence” armed groups have called for an end to Pakistan-China investments, viewing the multi-billion-dollar project as a form of “colonialism.” These groups have warned both Pakistani and Chinese governments to halt CPEC investments in Gwadar and other regions of Balochistan.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the most prominent of these armed groups, launched a military campaign against Chinese interests, forming the Majeed Brigade, a specialized unit tasked with carrying out high-profile and tactical attacks on Chinese nationals and CPEC projects in Gwadar.

The Majeed Brigade then initiated “Operation Zirpahazag” (Operation Protection of the Sea) to counter what they describe as the “occupation and exploitation of the Baloch coast.”

Since 2018, the BLA’s elite unit has conducted several attacks against Chinese interests. On August 11, 2018, a bus carrying Chinese engineers was targeted in Dalbandin, Balochistan. Later that year, the group attacked the Chinese consulate in Karachi, followed by an assault on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar on May 11, 2019.

In 2021, a convoy of Chinese engineers was attacked in Gwadar, followed by a deadly attack on Chinese nationals at Karachi University in April 2022. The latter attack was carried out by Shari Baloch, the first female “Fidayee (self-sacrificer)” of the BLA.

More recently, on August 13, 2023, the Majeed Brigade attacked a convoy transporting Chinese engineers in Gwadar. In March 2024, they launched another assault targeting Pakistan’s intelligence agencies at the GDA complex in Gwadar, a highly secured zone.

Later that month, the Majeed Brigade also targeted Pakistan’s second-largest naval air station, PNS Siddique, in Turbat, a strategic site that houses Chinese drones. The BLA declared this as the fifth phase of “Operation Zirpahazag” and issued a warning to China, threatening further severe attacks unless it ceases its involvement in what they describe as “exploitative activities” and support for the Pakistani military in Balochistan.

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