Pakistan and China are reportedly at odds over control and ownership of Gwadar port, with Islamabad saying the port, built with significant Chinese investment, belongs solely to Pakistan.
Gwadar Port: Strong allies Pakistan and China are reportedly at odds over control and ownership of Gwadar Port, with Islamabad insisting that the port, built with significant Chinese investment, belongs exclusively to Pakistan. and that it will not be handed over to any “foreign country”.
“Gwadar Port is a commercial port developed with assistance from the Chinese government. Pakistan has handed over Gwadar Port and other places to foreign entities,” said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The development comes days after the opening of the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) was postponed for the third time due to ongoing security concerns in the region. The airport is a key part of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and was originally scheduled to begin operations on January 1, 2025, but is now set to remain closed indefinitely. Balochistan Post reported.
Pakistan demands second strike capability
Meanwhile, experts say the standoff over the Gwadar port could be a ploy by Pakistan to blackmail China, and that Islamabad, under President-elect Donald Trump, has refused to accept Gwadar port to China. I believe that we are trying to build better relations with the United States.
According to Pakistani media reports, high-level talks were recently held between Pakistani and Chinese government and military officials to discuss and negotiate the future use of the strategic Gwadar port. According to reports, the Islamabad government has asked Beijing to equip Pakistan with second-strike nuclear capabilities if China wants to build a military base in Gwadar.
However, this threatening tone did not sit well with the Chinese government, which flatly rejected Pakistan’s demands and reportedly postponed further talks indefinitely due to Islamabad’s shocking audacity. It has been decided.
The breakdown in diplomatic and military talks with China does not bode well for Pakistan, which is cash-strapped and highly dependent on economic relief packages from Beijing. Moreover, China has been the savior of Pakistan’s military for many years, supplying most of its weapons.
