India Declares War on Gwadar
I recently concluded a detailed visit of Gwadar. It is now crystal clear that Gwadar is the future of Pakistan. This is Pakistan’s game changer. It will make the nation economically independent like the nuclear project had made Pakistan strategically independent. Logically then Pakistan’s existential enemy India cannot allow this to happen. India is waging an undeclared war on Gwadar.
As a pioneer of Gwadar, I helped craft the modern Gwadar Concept in year 2000 during service. It was in Headquarters 12 Corps Quetta, later Southern Command that the initial contours of the Gwadar Concept took shape. Later after farewell to arms in 2010, my first book, ‘Gwadar on the Global Chessboard’ was published. In 2012, I gave a detailed presentation and copies of this book to Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet, then opposition and now the government. This book is now global and the moving spirit of Gwadar. Besides I kept preaching and working for the Gwadar Concept. This ongoing contribution includes lectures, seminars, interviews, articles and TV talk shows both at home and abroad.
Post Chinese President Xi Jing ping’s visit Gwadar has become a global word. For all the efforts of China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the end game is Gwadar. China may have other options like the Central Asian Route or Myanmar East Asian Route, but CPEC is the sole choice of Pakistan and the best choice for China. In essence, the Makran Gwadar Coast is linked to China’s Xinjiang. This fusion of geography and economics namely Geo economics is primarily China but also synergizes with Central Asia and even Southern Russia.
(From the book, ‘Gwadar on the Global Chessboard’ by Nadir Mir)
Besides Cold Start / Proactive strategy threat on the Eastern Frontier, terrorist threat is from Afghanistan and those militants hiding within Pakistan. The state actor sponsoring most of the militant non state actors operating in Pakistan is India. India is following a policy of covert confrontation with Pakistan. Its major effort is to support separatists in Baluchistan, target Gwadar from every angle and destabilize Karachi and Sindh. In essence, Delhi considers Baluchistan as Pakistan’s Achilles heel on which it aims its terrorist arrows of separatism, terrorism, ethnic cleansing and anti Pakistan tirade. Further identifying Gwadar as the emerging center of gravity of Pakistan’s new economy and regional bonding, Delhi seeks to delay Gwadar’s development, while expediting its own interests in Iran’s Chah Bahar Port.
India is waging a multi-faceted, hybrid, undeclared war against Pakistan in Baluchistan, around Gwadar and Karachi.
Stable Pakistan Not in India’s Interest
Quote: Baluchistan will achieve independence. For New Delhi this open a window of opportunity to ensure that Gwadar Port does not fall into the hands of Chinese. In this there is synergy between the political objective of the Americans and the Indians. Our good will existing in Baluchistan requires intelligent leveraging - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Today the collapse of Pakistan as a state is almost certain - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - looking ahead, New Delhi should formulate an appropriate strategy for ‘Post Pakistan Scenario’ to secure India’s interest in Central Asia.’
Bharat Verma Editor, Indian Defence Review From the book, ‘Gwadar on the Global Chessboard’ by Nadir Mir
The Indian National Security advisor Ajit Doval clearly betrayed sinister Indian designs in Baluchistan during his utterances. Recently the Indian Defence Minister openly sponsors terrorist attacks in Pakistan to which belatedly Islamabad has reacted. India is greatly perturbed by the fact that in the last half decade, Geopolitical environment has turned in Pakistan’s favour. USA is withdrawing from Afghanistan and focused on the Middle East but remains an old friend of Pakistan. Russia is emerging as Pakistan’s new friend. China’s is strategizing with Pakistan and linking up at Gwadar. Pakistan has launched a successful military campaign against all terrorist elements and relations with Afghanistan are improving. Since the Chinese President’s recent visit of Pakistan, India went hysterical and its media including social media betrayed the official and unofficial Indian phobia of a rich and powerful Pakistan of future.
The brave soldiers of Pakistan defend every inch of the Motherland including the coastal region. Yet it is ironic that the political elite is confused and wavering in naming India as the main sponsor of various terrorist groups operating against Pakistan. This lack of clarity and inhibition in Pakistani political circles in naming India as the enemy has emboldened Delhi in its reckless terrorist campaign against Pakistan.
The recent visit to Gwadar highlighted the need for enhancing security. Some aspects are reflected below.
Gwadar and Coastal Security
- Need for Zarb-e- Azb II: There is a need for Zarb-e- Azb II concentrating on Gwadar and coastal regions. This should include elimination of all terrorists in coastal region and neutralization of anti Gwadar lobby. The Coastal Belt of Karachi, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar, Jiwani and areas of Khuzdar,Turbat and Panjgur need to be sanitized.
- Need for attack helicopters / drones stationing in coastal belt. The coastal regions and hinterland need armed helicopters, drones for surveillance and to target insurgents and terrorists.
- More forces needed in coastal region. Special Division for security should have major presence in coastal region and economic corridor. Navy Marines are doing a good job and need to be expanded into a bigger force. Coast guards need further built up and modernization considering the historic developments on the Makran Coast. In essence more modern and stronger forces required around Gwadar and the coast. Deterring terrorists will not be enough, proactive, preemptive intelligence backed operations are needed.
Welfare Projects for Coastal Region
The Baloch should be the first to reap the benefits of the Gwadar Project. The latest visit confirmed an earlier requirement. Priority welfare projects should be undertaken with schools, colleges, medical units and hospitals at the top. The frugal, honourable and brave Baloch first demand education, health and jobs. The Navy Bahria and Army Public Schools are much coveted. A part of the Chinese investment and federal, provincial resources should provide basic facilities to the people in Gwadar region. The local people being stake holder and share holder will make the Gwadar Project a complete success.
Coastal Border with Iran and Chah Bahar
While vigilantly maintaining peace on the coastal border with Iran near Jiwani, trade can be built up. Pakistan can also propose cooperation between Gwadar and Chah Bahar, both being port cities. However, Indian presence at Chah Bahar is going to create multiple security problems for Pakistan. The political government must use diplomacy to block Indian presence at Chah Bahar. Indian presence at Chah Bahar should be exposed for its real design that is strategic encirclement of Pakistan.
Gwadar the future of Pakistan
Gwadar is truly the future of Pakistan. However, without adequate security there is no future. For the Gwadar Concept to be realized Pakistan has to be internally secured. Pakistan and China have to jointly thwart India’s nefarious designs. Before that Pakistan’s political elite has to clearly term‘India As The Enemy’ and take effective counter measures employing all elements of national power.
Let us secure Gwadar, before we built Gwadar
Pakistan is destined to rise as a Great Nation!
Brigadier Nadir Mir (R), Soldier – Scholar – Reformer
Author of the books “Gwadar on the Global Chessboard” and ‘Geopolitik Pakistan’
He is working as National Reformer
This article orginally appeared in Pakistan and Geopolitics Blog