China's efforts to speed up Belt and Road in Pakistan falters

Eager to salvage $62bn Economic Corridor, Beijing hosts provincial leaders

A highway leading to Gwadar, Pakistan. Baloch insurgent groups from Balochistan have been the source of most of the attacks on Chinese interests since inception of CPEC. © Reuters

ADNAN AAMIR, Contributing writer

September 16, 2019 14:19 JST

QUETTA, Pakistan -- China is making overtures to the tribal and political leaders of Balochistan, a province in western Pakistan, in a bid to promote progress on infrastructure projects for its Belt and Road Initiative in the region, which has slowed significantly since a new government took power in Islamabad in August 2018.

Early in September, a delegation of more than 10 political and tribal leaders from Balochistan were invited to China by the Beijing government. The delegation included Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, the governor of Balochistan, Dr. Malik Baloch, former chief minister of the province, as well as other tribal leaders who have previously criticized the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.