Terrorism is not a threat to Pakistan alone
In the past two years, instead of launching a collaborative foreign approach to counter terrorism, the government has gone by its own way and means
Over the past two years, Pakistan and China are strikingly differing on the perspective of security on the CPEC projects and their workers. There is a different security environment in Pakistan and the Chinese are not accustomed to it. They want to see a different security environment in Pakistan — free of terrorism where strict law and order is imposed.
Pakistanis live in a different security environment. The government has been tackling the menace of terrorism by using its home-grown prescriptions — Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan (NAP). In the past two years, instead of launching a collaborative foreign approach to counter terrorism, the government has gone by its own way and means.
The results are encouraging. This, however, does not satisfy the Chinese side. The Chinese perceive a somewhat ”dangerous security environment” in Pakistan while executing CPEC projects. Pakistanis think differently.
Pakistan has been working on three fronts to provide security to Chinese workers on the CPEC projects: Two armed divisions have been erected by the army in 2015. A Naval Task Force 88 has been set up in November 2016. A Police Special Security Force has been raised last year. There are joint military exercises besides intelligence-sharing.
What else should be done by Pakistan? The Chinese side can convey new measures to be adopted by Pakistan because they are not satisfied. On the contrary, Pakistan is satisfied with the kind of security arrangements so far provided for CPEC projects and Chinese workers.
CPEC is a terrorism-free project for Chinese workers. Since it was launched, two Chinese workers were reported killed last year. As a whole, the number of Chinese terror-related killings were 12 that ran during 2004-2013. The operation Zarb-e-Azband NAP swiftly controlled all such situations. Conversely, this did not send a positive message to the Chinese. They are apprehensive of security of the CPEC.
Terrorism is not a threat to Pakistan alone. It is threat to the region and even beyond. No government from Canada to Australia can say that they are free of terror and projects can be launched. The situation in Pakistan has improved much.
There are internal security vulnerabilities in China too that also cast a black shadow on the projects. At least, there are four such vulnerabilities (Xinjing separatism, the Tibet issue, Taiwan question, and Hong Kong’s civil liberties) in China.
Of all the six corridors of the One Belt One Road (OBOR), China faces a peculiar kind of security threat. The China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor (CMREC) faces security threats. The New Eurasian Land Bridge (NELB) is not out of terrorist attack. The China-Central and West Asia Economic Corridor (CCWAEC) faces IS threat and internal security vulnerabilities. The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIMEC) confronts terrorism originates from Tibet and Myanmar. The BCIMEC receives a lacklustre response. Lastly, the 21 Centaury Maritime Silk Road faces a number of threats including restive situation in the South China Sea.
Security of CPEC is something that could be shared by both sides. It is not good that the one side just keep interrogating the other side
Comparing CPEC with all other Chinese-led five economic corridors, CPEC confronts least security threats and internal security vulnerabilities. The reason is that CPEC is far ahead of all these five economic corridors and faces least threats. CPEC is not the flagship of threats. It is security model all other OBOR projects.
Additionally, IS is not a peculiar threat to CPEC but it is peculiar to China. Uyghur separatism is not yet over and the militancy continues. These are peculiar threats to China along with the Tibetan issue, which India has been hosting since 1959.
Security of CPEC is something that could be shared by both sides. It is not good that the one side just keep interrogating the other side. This mentality should be wrecked. This uncomfortable situation between the two sides should be sorted out. The issue of the security should be jointly tackled. Both sides should come up with proposals and way forward tackling the CPEC security.