Shafaqna Pakistan:Aiming to protect the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in Gwadar and Balochistan the Pakistani military is in the process of raising a division headquarters of the 44th Light Infantry.
The Division is raised in Balochistan’s Gwadar to coordinate security initiatives and protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
India has opposed the project as it passes through the disputed territory of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
“India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on the projects in so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is on the territory of India”, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated in September.
The CPEC is a flagship infrastructure-related project of China in Pakistan and is a part of the over $50 billion Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that aims to link the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The move to create the new division headquarters was taken to ensure proper security for the project and the thousands of Chinese workers in the area, media reports said.
A series of attacks link this year and earlier from Baloch activists has raised concerns for China; on 12 May, gunmen stormed in PC Gwadar and killed five people, Sputnik has reported.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic Baloch group fighting for the independence of Balochistan province, claimed responsibility for the attack.