UAE Role in Balochistan

Gwadar Deep Sea Port on Makran coast, built with Chinese assistance is a great achievement for Pakistan. The port can provide an energy corridor for China and an economical low-cost trade route for the land-locked Central Asian States through the province of Balochistan. This port which is strategically located at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz was built by China but its operations were handed over to Port of Singapore Authority (PSA). Later on after a long judicial battle Pakistan handed over this port to China under CPEC agreement between both governments.

The interests of India and US converge on this very issue and in order to keep the port non-operational, both the countries are fanning and funding insurgency in Balochistan so that Pakistan remains unable to build rail and road infrastructure in Balochistan which is very vital for port operation. Baloch Liberation Army is basically an Indian and American proxy whose misdeeds are being glorified by Indian, Western and a part of Pakistani media. The issue of “missing persons” being pursued so vigorously is a part of the game plan. Pressurizing the apex court to indict the security establishment is a part of this plan.

Unfortunately, there is a another player of the game which Pakistanis have not so far been able to clearly identify. It is Pakistan’s so-called friend; United Arab Emirate. UAE has its own interests in Balochistan and Gwadar port. Everyone knows that Gwadar has the potential to undermine UAE’s commercial interests by taking trans-shipment business away from the port of Dubai. UAE is also one of the financiers of the BLA.

According to media reports and WikiLeaks, former DG ISI while briefing Pakistani parliamentarians claimed India and the UAE (reportedly due to opposition to construction of the Gwadar port) were funding and arming the Baloch. The infamous Shamsi Air Base in Balochistan, from where the drones operated, was built by UAE Sheikhs and handed over to USA. The UAE’s interests in Balochistan may not be for falcon hunting alone. Arabs are wary of Iran’s growing power and can cut a deal with anyone, including devil, to undermine Iran’s interests.

Baloch insurgents often claimed that they receive financial support from Dubai through Baloch diaspora. BLA, the darling of anti-Pakistan elements has strong presence in Dubai, Switzerland and Afghanistan and UAE’s intelligence agency is working in cover to support the insurgents.

Unfortunately, Pakistani diaspora working in the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia bring back home not only their hard-earned money but incidental Arab influence. We have an unwarranted emotional influence of Arab countries which allows them to meddle in our internal affairs. They will, however, safeguard their own interest even if they have to sacrifice Pakistan.