New Delhi: Armed Balochistan separatists attacked Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar port on Wednesday. Seven militants were shot dead by security forces, said a government official.
The attackers had forcibly entered the Gwadar Port Authority Complex and opened firing; the complex houses different government departments, said Saeed Ahmed Umrani, a government commissioner.
The Majeed Brigade of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Gwadar, located near the Strait of Hormuz, holds a crucial position in the Arabian Sea’s oil shipping route. The multi-billion-dollar deep-water port is the key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This is an integral part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. China has invested heavily in mineral-rich Balochistan, including developing the Gwadar port.
However, the Chinese have been accused of exploiting the local resources leading to the targeted attack of Baloch separatist groups since the inception of this costly project. The targeted attacks on its citizens in the region have raised concerns in China.
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