Mehr Tahir
The strategic ties between Pakistan and China have been on an upward
trajectory with moved thrust on economic interaction after the initiation of
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project since 2013. CPEC is a
revolution in the field of economics. Under CPEC, China would invest $46
billion in Pakistan for the development of infrastructure and energy. CPEC
is a futuristic economic dimension of Pakistan in the 21st century. This
multi-dimensional project has opened Pakistan’s rebalancing options from
geopolitics to geo-economics. It includes four pillars i.e. the
infrastructure, the energy requirements, workforce development and economic
progress. CPEC project is not an economic aid given to Pakistan but it is an
investment for the next 15 years. CPEC would be a game changer for Pakistan
and for the region as well. The CPEC would play pivotal role through
economic incentives and regional integration in the form of networks,
connectivity and partnerships. It is a mega project that has the potential
to transform the lives of the people in the region by opening common vistas
of co-operation and development in the field of economics. CPEC is the
broader part of the Chinese leadership and ambitious vision of
reconstruction of ancient Silk Road under the new One Belt One Road (OBOR)
initiative.
Whoever controls the Indian Ocean controls Asia; and second, extra-regional
powers should stay out of what they would like to call the 'India's Ocean'.
Such a mindset on the part of India is indeed a challenge for both Pakistan
and China to ensure maritime security and safety of sea-lanes from and to
the Gwadar seaport. Rightly then the Pakistan Navy is putting in place
adequate arrangements, and more are under active consideration. Pakistan
Navy has adopted, what its spokesman says 'a multipronged approach to deal
with the prevailing challenges such as beefing up security of Gwadar Port,
conducting security patrols and coastal exercises, enhancing Maritime Domain
Awareness and engaging other law-enforcing agencies'. Since over some time,
maritime traffic to and from Gwadar is expected to increase manifold the
maritime security is considered vital for overall success of the CPEC, and
therefore safe and secure maritime environment in the Indian Ocean. And then
there are also the challenges of piracy, human trafficking and smuggling.
Pakistan Navy is therefore working at three basic levels: the port security,
vessel security and security of sea-lanes. In fact, given the strategic
dimension lent to secure and efficient working of the CPEC. No doubt
securing Gwadar port and its sea-lanes across the Indian Ocean is a huge
maritime security challenge for the Pakistan Navy. For this to materialise
it requires more patrol ships and fast attack interceptor craft. And to this
there is no alternative - whatever the cost.
The Navy has also created a separate force consisting of Pakistan Marines
for the protection of Gwadar Port and Chinese personnel. The name of the
force is Force Protection Battalion (FPBn). The size of this force is
subject to increase as related activities on the port will increase. Apart
from the conventional threats, Pakistan Navy is also preparing its defences
regarding any asymmetric threats to Pakistani ports and coast.
It has raised a special task force for maritime security of the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Gwadar sea port .
The force is known as Task Force-88.
The creation of the special maritime force had been necessitated by the
operationalization of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is expected to
lead to a surge in maritime activity at Gwadar — the nodal point for CPEC —
and the sea lanes. This has in turn increased the maritime susceptibilities
there.
The task force would be a force multiplier for overall security of CPEC. The
land route has already been secured by Special Security Division and now
Gwadar, the centrepiece of CPEC, will also be safe and secure. The botched
attempt by an Indian submarine to intrude into Pakistani waters when
shipping activity under CPEC began at Gwadar has been pointed out by
Pakistani observers as an indicator of Indian intentions. Apart from
security on land, the initiative has been taken through the maritime
security agency to protect the coast as well as through the Pakistan Air
Force
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the lifeline of future
economy of Pakistan and role of security agencies, especially Pak Army, is
laudable to ensure uninterrupted completion of this landmark project.
Pakistan military has thousands of civil, mechanical and electrical
engineers with decades of experience in building large infrastructure
projects and analysts say the army is well placed to supervise the corridor,
In fact, Pakistan Army's Frontier Works Organization (FWO) is building
significant parts of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Various militant groups, including Indian government proxies, are engaged in
sabotaging CPEC. While some attacks have been successful, it is believed
that the Pakistani military has been able to prevent many more. Thousands of
soldiers and hundreds of intelligence officers are believed to be working to
manage the security situation all along the western route and in Gwadar.
This is what made the recent pilot run with the trucks convoy reaching
Gwadar and operationalizing the port recently.
A Special Security Division (SSD) comprising 9,000 Pakistan Army soldiers
and 6,000 para-military forces personnel has been set up for the security of
the project and individuals working on it.
In order to fully utilize the maritime advantages, it is essential that an
effective policy focusing on the security and safety of the sea lanes and
water bodies; including both the domestic and international waters is
devised and streamlined on the regular basis.
The presence of maritime security cooperation points to the fact that both
the states are working towards drafting a comprehensive mechanism to ensure
security of Gwadar and surrounding area. This enhanced security cooperation
between two countries will auger well for the entire maritime region of
interest. Another important development in this regard is that the Ministry
of Defence Production under PSDP programme signed a contract with M/s CSTC
of China for construction of 4 x 600 Tons and 2 x 1500 Tons Maritime Patrol
Ships in June 2015. As per the contract, four ships are being constructed in
China while remaining three ships are being constructed at Karachi Shipyard
and Engineering Works.
The military has played an important role in alleviating some of the Chinese
concerns and removing some of the obstacles, especially in regards to
guaranteeing strong security.
There are some political entities in Pakistan that have challenged the
corridor’s route, slowing progress on the development of road and rail
networks. Others have been supporting terrorists in Balochistan on the
behest of their foreign masters so the security of CPEC is very important
and a main concern as our enemies are just eyeing to sabotage this project
as it keeps them pinching .All our three forces are playing a magnificent
role in carrying on this project.
(The writer is a freelance columnist based in Peshawar)