Changing security scenarios
THE trilateral dialogue between China, Iran and Pakistan last month was a significant development following the Saudi Arabia-Iran peace deal facilitated by China earlier this year. This dialogue aims to reduce mistrust between Iran and Pakistan, broadening the prospects for enhanced security and economic cooperation.
This could be good news for Balochistan, which faces security and economic integration issues. However, the benefits of any productive output reaching the province depend on the intentions of state institutions. In the regional security and political context, credit goes to Chinese diplomacy for resolving hurdles in bilateral relations among the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its associated projects.
For China, terrorism poses a major concern for the safety of BRI projects and regional cooperation, making it a prime enemy of terrorist groups. However, China is positioned to assume a leading role in the fight against terrorism, employing a distinct strategy compared to the US-led coalition in Afghanistan and the Middle East. China’s objective focuses on fostering trust and assisting nations in addressing their respective issues. But China does not intend to engage directly in military campaigns against terrorist groups in the region, including the TTP, Al Qaeda, IS-K, or Baloch insurgents targeting its nationals in Pakistan. From the Chinese perspective, establishing trust between Iran and Pakistan is important for regional stability.
China’s resolution framework aims to help states enhance their capacities to combat terrorism. Most terrorism threats are interstate, and weak counterterrorism cooperation between states undermines their ability to fight terrorist groups. For instance, Iran has frequently expressed concerns about the presence of Jaishul Adl in the bordering region with Pakistan, believing it to be a Saudi proxy with support from Western allies. Pakistan has formally lodged complaints about Baloch insurgents using Iranian soil against its security forces and CPEC-related projects.
