Pakistan’s Balochistan province has re-entered the global spotlight following fresh attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and intensified military operations by the Pakistan Army. At the core of this unrest is a long-standing grievance among Baloch groups who believe that control over their land and resources has shifted away from local communities and even the Pakistani state, increasingly aligning with Chinese strategic and economic interests.
Nowhere is this perception stronger than in Gwadar, a once-quiet fishing town that has transformed into a major geopolitical hotspot. As a key node in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Gwadar Port has been leased for 40 years to the China Overseas Port Holding Company, with the majority of revenues reportedly flowing to the Chinese operator. Locals argue that despite large-scale infrastructure development, Baloch communities face displacement, limited employment opportunities, environmental stress, and heavy militarisation.
Gwadar’s political history further complicates the issue. Unlike much of Balochistan, Gwadar remained under Omani rule until 1958, when Pakistan acquired it through a negotiated purchase. In a lesser-known historical episode, the port was reportedly offered to India before being transferred to Pakistan—an offer that, if accepted, could have dramatically altered South Asia’s strategic landscape.
Today, Gwadar’s proximity to the Strait of Hormuz gives it immense global importance. For China, it offers strategic access to the Arabian Sea; for Pakistan, it represents both economic potential and internal instability. As violence escalates in Balochistan, Gwadar stands at the intersection of local resistance, contested sovereignty, and great-power competition.
