Pakistan and China are reportedly at loggerheads over the control and ownership of Gwadar Port with Islamabad stating that the port, which was built with substantial Chinese investment, belongs solely to Pakistan.
Gwadar Port: Staunch allies Pakistan and China are reportedly at loggerheads over the control and ownership of Gwadar Port with Islamabad stating that the port, which was built with substantial Chinese investment, belongs solely to Pakistan and won’t be handed over to any “foreign entity”.
“Gwadar port is a commercial port developed with the help of the Chinese government. Pakistan is handing over Gwadar port or any other place to any foreign entity,” Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
The development comes days after the inauguration of the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) was postponed for the third time, reportedly due to ongoing security concerns in the region. The airport, which is a key part of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was originally scheduled to begin operations on January 1, 2025, will now remain closed indefinitely, the Balochistan Post reported.
Pakistan demands second-strike capability
Meanwhile, experts believe that the standoff over Gwadar port could be Pakistan’s ploy to blackmail China and Islamabad is trying to build better ties with the United States under incoming President Donald Trump by denying Gwadar to Beijing.
As per Pakistani media reports, a high-level meeting was recently held between Pakistani and Chinese senior government and military officials where discussions and negotiations were held on the on the future use of the strategic Gwadar port. Reports said that Islamabad demanded Beijing to arm Pakistan with second-strike nuclear capability if China wants to build a military base in Gwadar.
However, according to reports, this threatening tone did not go down well with Beijing, which outright rejected Pakistan’s demand and decided to indefinitely postpone future talks due to Islamabad’s shocking audacity.
The breakdown of diplomatic and military talks with China does not bode well for Pakistan as the cash-strapped nation is heavily dependent on economic relief packages from Beijing. Additionally, China has been a longtime savior of Pakistan’s Armed Forces, supplying most of its armaments.