With Pakistan and China likely to finalise long-term planning for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in July, Chinese authorities have cautioned the local authorities of a possible terror attack aimed at making the project a failure, a local media report said on Friday.
The Chinese officials fear that the insurgents in Balochistan could infiltrate the security of the 3,000-km-long route in the province, with many believing the foreign hostile agencies could also extend their support to the militants.
A security official, on the condition of anonymity, said: “Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), with other hostile agencies, is at the frontline to sabotage this project – that is what Chinese intelligence agencies shared with us.”
“The Chinese have sounded a note of ‘caution’ soon after reports suggested foreign agencies’ support to militants,” the official, who attended an important meeting discussing key issues relating to Gwadar Port and Economic Corridor at the Ministry of Defence this week, said.
Meanwhile, a special security division consisting of more than 8, 000 military personnel (nine army battalions) has been trained and will guard key projects linked from Hyderabad to Karachi and Gwadar through N-10 East Bay Expressway along the coastal line. At least 9, 000 security personnel – comprising Rangers, Levies, police, scouts – making up six wings will assist the military to guard more than 15,000 Chinese workers on this route.
Moreover, a major-general-rank officer will command the entire unit. Apart from guarding the economic corridor, an estimated 8,000 security officials have already been deployed for more than 8,112 Chinese workers executing 210 projects in Pakistan.
It may be mentioned here that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif had during a visit to Quetta on April 15 warned “foreign governments and intelligence agencies” against their involvement in the insurgency in Balochistan, but on that occasion he did not explicitly name RAW. However, a meeting of the Corps Commander held at the General Headquarters on May 5 (Tuesday) had accused RAW of supporting terrorism in Pakistan.
