Pakistan never fails to entertain with its series of unusual incidents. This time, the situation revolves around the much-awaited inauguration of the Gwadar International Airport. Built with heavy funding from China, this airport was completed a while ago, but its inauguration has been delayed for months. Now, in a rather bizarre twist, it has finally been inaugurated – virtually!
🇨🇳🇵🇰#Gwadar International Airport, a gift from China to #Pakistan is inaugurated.
Within 5 years from 2019 to 2024.
Despite all challenges, a vision becomes the reality.
The airport spans 18 square kilometers and now becomes the second-largest in Pakistan.#CPEC pic.twitter.com/YvRzy77SwJ— Shen Shiwei 沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) October 15, 2024
Why the Delays?
For the last six months, the Gwadar airport’s grand opening had been postponed multiple times. The root cause? The ongoing unrest in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are continuously protesting for independence. These protests often target Pakistani soldiers and Chinese officials working in the region, accusing them of exploiting Balochistan’s resources for their gain.
One of the biggest challenges in recent months has been the security situation. Even when then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif planned to inaugurate the airport, the event was canceled due to “technical reasons.” However, insiders revealed that the real issue was a suicide attack in the area, which led to concerns about security clearance. As a result, the ceremony was delayed again.
China Steps in, but…
China has heavily invested in Gwadar and the larger China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Gwadar International Airport is a critical part of this project, meant to facilitate smoother travel for Chinese officials and engineers who had previously faced long, difficult journeys between Islamabad and Gwadar.
Recently, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Islamabad to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Pakistani authorities were eager to have him inaugurate the airport, especially after China’s President Xi Jinping had already declined to attend, citing a busy schedule. However, the actual reason behind Xi’s refusal was reportedly the growing security concerns in Balochistan.
Premier Li agreed to the inauguration but on one condition—he would not step foot outside Islamabad. This meant that, in a rather amusing turn of events, the much-anticipated inauguration of Gwadar International Airport took place virtually, with Chinese and Pakistani officials attending remotely from Islamabad.
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A Laughable Inauguration?
Imagine inaugurating an airport that’s hundreds of kilometers away, without being present there! That’s exactly what happened. Despite the awkwardness, Pakistan and China decided to go ahead with the virtual event, simply to avoid further embarrassment after months of delays.
This whole incident highlights the difficult situation Pakistan faces in Balochistan, where continuous unrest makes large infrastructure projects risky. China, too, has grown increasingly frustrated, as attacks on its officials have led to the deaths of over 40 Chinese nationals in the past three years. These security concerns have severely strained China-Pakistan relations.
The Future of CPEC
As Balochistan remains a hotspot of violence, the fate of many CPEC projects hangs in the balance. Chinese officials have started questioning the viability of their investments, as ongoing attacks threaten the stability of the region. While Pakistan has promised better security and closer cooperation with Baloch leaders, it’s unclear how successful these efforts will be.
In the meantime, Gwadar’s International Airport might remain underutilized, serving as a symbol of the broader challenges Pakistan faces in balancing internal security with foreign investment.
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