CHINA ARMS PAK'S SSG IN BALOCHISTAN RAISING ALARMS FOR INDIA'S SECURITY

At a practical, ground-level view, the recent reports suggesting that China is providing military and financial assistance to Pakistan's Special Services Group (SSG) in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have far-reaching consequences.

- DR. NISHAKANT OJHA

These regions, which are key to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), have witnessed growing insurgency and instability.

The local security forces in these areas, particularly Pakistan's SSG, have been struggling to manage the violence and unrest from groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and other armed factions.

On the ground, this assistance translates into a much-needed boost for Pakistan's ability to conduct counter-insurgency operations.

However, the bigger picture reveals complex geopolitical shifts-especially for India.

This analysis will break down what these developments mean for the security dynamics in Pakistan, China, and India, with a focus on their local and immediate impacts.

CPEC SECURITY: GROUND-LEVEL REALITIES

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become the backbone of China's interests in the region, amounting to approximately $62 billion in infrastructure investments aimed at connecting China's Pakistan's Gwadar Port. On the ground in Balochistan, CPEC has brought both development and controversy.

While the province holds immense natural resource potential and a critical maritime outlet at Gwadar, it is also plagued by ethnic separatism, insurgency, and political instability.

For local people, particularly the Baloch, CPEC is often viewed as a project that benefits China and Pakistan at their expense.

The local insurgents, such as the BLA, regularly target CPEC infrastructure, foreign workers, and Pakistani military installations in an effort to disrupt the project.

In the past few years, there have been several high-profile attacks, including the 2021 bombing targeting Chinese engineers working in Gwadar, which killed two Chinese nationals.

On the ground, these attacks are a clear indicator of the fragility of security in Balochistan.