Opinion | Could Gwadar port protests close the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s crown jewel?

Since November 15, thousands of people have protested on the doorstep of the Chinese-operated port in Gwadar. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, an emerging charismatic leader, is heading the movement, called “Give Rights to Gwadar”.

Thousands of women have also marched in support. The protesters have said that if their demands are not met, they will close down operations at the port and other projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gwadar.

Gwadar, a coastal town in southwest Pakistan, became the centre of media attention in 2015 when it was chosen to be the hub of the CPEC, which is supposed to connect Gwadar with Kashgar in Xinjiang province through an economic corridor including roads, railway lines, energy projects and industrial zones.

There are three primary reasons driving the protests. The first is the humiliation felt by locals on a daily basis amid the many security checkpoints created to protect the port. Baloch insurgents accuse China of being a colonial exploiter, and Chinese interests in Gwadar have been attacked by insurgents. The latest incident took place in August, when a suicide bomber targeted Chinese engineers.

To protect Chinese workers in Gwadar, the Balochistan government started fencing off Gwadar city with barbed wire. This project was later halted amid protests by residents. Instead, the government has established multiple checkpoints in the city, at which residents must register before they are allowed to pass, creating great inconvenience.