New Delhi: Pakistan’s largest international airport, funded and constructed by China in Balochistan’s Gwadar, started operations on Monday after months of delay and amid heavy security in the violence-prone region.
While Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labelled it a “shining example of Pakistan-China’s friendship” and a “game-changer”, Chinese media Global Times called it a “donation”.
The first commercial flight, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PK 503, carrying passengers and senior officials, took off from Karachi on Monday with a 45-minute delay and landed in Gwadar after a one-hour, 10-minute journey.
The official inauguration of the Gwadar International Airport, initially scheduled for August last year, was delayed multiple times due to security concerns in Balochistan, where separatist militant attacks have been a persistent issue.
At the event, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) potential to transform Balochistan’s social, technical, and energy sectors, further integrating the province into Pakistan-China economic cooperation.
Incidentally, since the launch of CPEC, Pakistan’s debt to China has soared from $4 billion to over $30 billion.
Both the airport and Gwadar’s deep-sea port are central to the over $65 billion CPEC projects, which both nations see as pivotal to boosting trade and regional ties.
The $230 million airport, which covers 430 acres and is capable of handling up to 400,000 passengers annually, is part of China’s broader plan to transform Gwadar into a major trade and transportation hub.
Situated strategically on the Arabian Sea, the airport is expected to complement the Gwadar port, which is key to CPEC’s vision of connecting China’s western Xinjiang region with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa via an extensive network of railways, highways, and pipelines.
Why is Gwadar important?
For China, Gwadar holds particular significance as an alternative to the Strait of Malacca, a crucial maritime choke point fraught with tensions, particularly with the United States. The port and airport are seen as essential links in China’s quest to secure more diversified and safe trade routes.
However, the grand vision for Gwadar has faced significant setbacks, particularly for the local community. The CPEC initiative, launched in 2015, was supposed to bring rapid economic growth and job creation to Balochistan, one of Pakistan’s poorest and most underdeveloped provinces. While initial projections promised two million jobs, fewer than 250,000 have been created, and many of those have evaporated due to delays and stagnation in infrastructure development.
Local resentment has grown as the promised benefits of CPEC have not materialised for the people of Balochistan. Despite Gwadar’s abundant natural resources – including oil, coal, and gold – the local population reports few tangible advantages from the massive foreign investment.
Many have been displaced to make room for projects like the Gwadar Port, yet basic services like clean water and electricity remain in short supply. Protests have erupted over the years, with Baloch residents accusing both the Pakistani government and Chinese investors of neglecting their basic needs.
Local resistance to CPEC & the Baloch question
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other separatist groups have been particularly vocal in their opposition to Chinese investments, which they view as a form of economic exploitation and political subjugation. These tensions have escalated into violent attacks on Chinese nationals and CPEC infrastructure.
In 2024 alone, several Chinese workers were killed in separate attacks, underscoring the risks to foreign investment in the region. The ongoing violence has led to mounting concerns about the safety of Chinese personnel and assets in Balochistan, and Beijing has expressed frustration with Pakistan’s inability to provide adequate security.
Additionally, the economic model behind CPEC projects has also drawn criticism. Along with the airport, China has invested in a deep-sea port, railways, and highways as part of the CPEC. Chinese companies are said to retain around 90 percent of the revenue generated by Gwadar-related ventures, leaving Pakistan’s government with a small fraction of the profits.
This lopsided distribution of wealth has further fueled local resentment in Balochistan, where there is little incentive for the population to support projects that benefit foreign interests more than their own.
Incidentally, the foundation stone of the Gwadar International Airport was laid by former prime minister Imran Khan in March 2019. It saw a virtual launch in October last, but remained largely inactive, with reports citing a failure by aviation and port authorities to market the facility internationally or engage consultants for its commercialisation.
Monday’s inauguration was marked by heavy security, effectively locking down the city, said Abdullah Abbas, convenor of the Human Rights Commission Balochistan.
He said the past unrest has led to the militarisation of the area, with Chinese investment bringing more military presence, restricting local movement, and increasing surveillance.
“These projects have ignored the needs of the local community, especially in the old town, leading to flooding and property damage. Fishermen also face restrictions, while illegal trawlers devastate marine life. In a recent incident, students advocating for education in Balochistan were arrested, and their books confiscated. Many locals fear the new airport will further militarise the area, increase surveillance, and add to the hardships faced by the already struggling population,” he said.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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