Beijing Snubs Islamabad, Seeks Direct Talks With Baloch Groups To Secure CPEC
Edited By:
Last Updated: May 28, 2025, 17:04 IST
Projects like Gwadar Port and the Reko Diq mining initiative have made little progress, and Beijing is now under pressure to move forward.(Reuters/File)
CNN-News18 has learnt from top intelligence sources that China is now pushing for direct engagement with Baloch groups, bypassing the Pakistan Army, to secure its investments in Balochistan and accelerate progress on the stalled China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This intent was formally conveyed to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during his recent Beijing visit.
China's desire stems from continued threats to CPEC, despite investments of over $60 billion, as Baloch insurgents repeatedly target key infrastructure. Projects like Gwadar Port and the Reko Diq mining initiative have made little progress, and Beijing is now under pressure to move forward — especially as the US has shown interest in Balochistan's vast mineral reserves.
Sources confirm that China wants to talk directly to the Baloch to speed up the process and signal positively to other Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners. China has struggled for over a decade and now believes that the real custodian of Balochistan is the Balochi people. It recognises that relying solely on the Pakistan Army has resulted in body bags and broken promises.
Chinese officials argue that direct negotiations will reduce insurgent attacks, protect their personnel, and help ensure that mineral extraction can proceed uninterrupted. They believe this shift could ease the Pakistan Army's security burden, recast China's role from aggressor to stabiliser, and further strengthen China-Pakistan relations.
However, Baloch distrust runs deep, especially after the 2019 secret talks in Dubai collapsed over transparency issues. While some factions are open to dialogue, others remain sceptical of China's intentions. The groups are divided on key demands — including autonomy, revenue-sharing, and an end to military operations. Before any formal negotiations, China will have to engage with each group separately and work towards consolidating a common position, a process that will be complex and politically sensitive.
The stakes are high. Balochistan holds an estimated $6 trillion in untapped minerals — including copper, gold, and lithium — critical for China's green-tech ambitions. Direct engagement would bypass bureaucratic delays, ensure long-term supply chain security, and let China collect all mineral wealth with reduced risk.
China is also reportedly interested in establishing police posts along CPEC routes, a proposal the Baloch people have firmly resisted. This kind of engagement is not seen as beneficial to anyone except China, as the Baloch risk losing their sovereignty, and Pakistan could lose control over the region.
Swipe Left For Next Video View all
Adding to the tension is the fact that China receives 91 per cent of the revenue generated by Gwadar port, leaving only a marginal share for local communities. This imbalance has deepened resentment among the Baloch, who see themselves as being excluded from the economic benefits of projects on their own land. As a result, Baloch groups continue to demand greater autonomy, a just share in resource distribution, and an end to military operations and human rights abuses in the region.
This development is a potential blow to Pakistan's military and government, who now face mounting pressure to address longstanding issues. With Beijing charting its own course, the future of Balochistan — and Pakistan's role in it — hangs in the balance. News world Beijing Snubs Islamabad, Seeks Direct Talks With Baloch Groups To Secure CPEC | Exclusive
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Microsoft scales back Chinese access to cyber early warning system
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Microsoft said on Wednesday it has scaled back some Chinese companies' access to its early warning system for cybersecurity vulnerabilities following speculation that Beijing was involved in a hacking campaign against the company's widely used SharePoint servers. The new restrictions come in the wake of last month's sweeping hacking attempts against Microsoft SharePoint servers, at least some of which Microsoft and others have blamed on Beijing. That raised suspicions among several cybersecurity experts that there was a leak in the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP), which Microsoft uses to help security vendors worldwide, including in China, to learn about cyber threats before the general public so they can better defend against hackers. Beijing has denied involvement in any SharePoint hacking. Microsoft notified members of the MAPP program of the SharePoint vulnerabilities on June 24, July 3 and July 7, Reuters has previously reported. Because Microsoft said it first observed exploitation attempts on July 7, the timing led some experts to allege that the likeliest scenario for the sudden explosion in hacking attempts was because a rogue member of the MAPP program misused the information. In a statement, Microsoft said several Chinese firms would no longer receive "proof of concept code," which mimics the operation of genuine malicious software. Proof of concept code can help cybersecurity professionals seeking to harden their systems in a hurry, but it can also be repurposed by hackers to get a jump start on the defenders. Microsoft said it was aware that the information it provided its partners could be exploited, "which is why we take steps – both known and confidential – to prevent misuse. We continuously review participants and suspend or remove them if we find they violated their contract with us which includes a prohibition on participating in offensive attacks." Microsoft declined to disclose the status of its investigation of the hacking or go into specifics about which companies had been restricted. (Reporting by Raphael Satter in Washington;Editing by Matthew Lewis)
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Losing India would be a strategic disaster in face of China: Nikki Haley to Trump
Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned that US-India relations are at a breaking point and must be repaired quickly if Washington hopes to contain China's global a Newsweek op-ed published Wednesday, Haley said the Trump administration cannot afford to let tariffs and disputes over Russian oil drive a wedge between the world's two largest United States should not lose sight of what matters most: our shared goals," she wrote. "To face China, the United States must have a friend in India."WASHINGTON, NEW DELHI AT ODDS OVER RUSSIA OIL Tensions escalated after President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs and an additional 25 per cent levy on New Delhi for continuing to buy Russian oil. The move followed months of friction, including claims over America's role in India-Pakistan ceasefire backed Trump's pressure campaign, saying India's energy purchases "are helping to fund Vladimir Putin's brutal war against Ukraine."But she cautioned against treating India like an adversary. "Scuttling 25 years of momentum with the only country that can serve as a counterweight to Chinese dominance in Asia would be a strategic disaster," she argued that India is essential to Washington's economic and security goals. As the United States seeks to shift supply chains away from China, India offers manufacturing capacity "at China-like scale" for industries like textiles, phones and solar pointed at India's increasing defence ties with the United States and allies like Israel make it a "crucial asset to the free world's security."INDIA'S RISE COULD SURPASS CHINA'S IMPACTIn the long run, she added, India's rise may be the most significant geopolitical development since China's economic ascent. "Simply put, China's ambitions will have to shrink as India's power grows," Haley former South Carolina governor urged direct talks between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end what she called a "downward spiral."Without action, she warned, Beijing would exploit the rift. "It would be a massive -- and preventable -- mistake to balloon a trade spat into an enduring rupture."Haley concluded by echoing Ronald Reagan's words to Indira Gandhi at the White House in 1982: although Washington and New Delhi may at times "travel separate paths," their destination should remain the same."The United States should not lose sight of what matters most: our shared goals. To face China, the United States must have a friend in India," she wrote.- EndsWith inputs from agenciesMust Watch
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Nikki Haley Urges Trump To Treat India As "Prized Free, Democratic" Partner
Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, in an opinion piece on Newsweek, emphasised the need to treat India as a "prized free and democratic partner" to counter China, said that "scuttling 25 years of momentum" with New Delhi would be a "strategic disaster." Nikki Haley called a strong partnership between India and China a "no-brainer", emphasising that the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world, "unlike Communist-controlled China." "India must be treated like the prized free and democratic partner that it is--not an adversary like China, which has thus far avoided sanctions for its Russian oil purchases, despite being one of Moscow's largest customers. If that disparity does not demand a closer look at U.S.-India relations, the realities of hard power should. Scuttling 25 years of momentum with the only country that can serve as a counterweight to Chinese dominance in Asia would be a strategic disaster," Nikki Haley said in her opinion piece on Newsweek. "Unlike Communist-controlled China, the rise of a democratic India does not threaten the free world. Partnership between the U.S. and India to counter China should be a no-brainer," she added. Nikki Haley pointed out that India has the potential to manufacture at a scale similar to China's for products that can help the US move its critical supply chains away from Beijing. She also mentioned that India's growing defence capabilities and its involvement in the Middle East are "essential" for stabilising the region. "In the short term, India is essential in helping the United States move its critical supply chains away from China. While the Trump administration works to bring manufacturing back to our shores, India stands alone in its potential to manufacture at a China-like scale for products that can't be quickly or efficiently produced here, like textiles, inexpensive phones, and solar panels," Nikki Haley said in the opinion piece. "India's growing clout and security involvement in the Middle East could prove essential in helping to stabilise the region as America seeks to send fewer troops and dollars there. And India's location at the centre of China's vital trade and energy flows could complicate Beijing's options in the case of a major conflict," she added. Nikki Haley, in the Newsweek article, further pointed out that India is the world's fastest-growing major economy and will soon take over Japan. She said that India's rise is the "greatest obstacle to China's goal of reshaping the global order." "Simply put, China's ambitions will have to shrink as India's power grows," she added. She also highlighted India's conflicting economic interests and ongoing territorial disputes with China, mentioning the Galwan Valley skirmish in 2020. She said that the partnership with the US would serve America's interests to help India stand up to its increasingly aggressive northern neighbour, both economically and militarily. In her opinion piece on Newsweek, Haley said that it would be a massive--and preventable--mistake to balloon a trade spat between the United States and India into an enduring rupture. She also raised concerns over China taking advantage of the situation. She advised India to take US President Donald Trump's point on Russian Oil seriously and work with the White House to find a solution. She urged Donald Trump to "reverse the downward spiral" and hold direct talks with PM Modi. "The sooner the better," she said. "The administration should focus on mending the rift with India and giving the relationship more high-level attention and resources--approaching what the U.S. devotes to China or Israel," she added. She further said that the US should not lose sight of what matters most, "our shared goals. To face China, the United States must have a friend in India." This comes after the US levied an ad valorem duty of 25 per cent on Indian goods, but has announced an additional 25 per cent tariff that will take effect from August 27, raising the total duty to 50 per cent. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
