The CPEC project that was commenced a decade ago was held as a harbinger of prosperity for Pakistan. However, seven years later, many projects under the CPEC still remain non-starters while some of those being operational have become liabilities and are incurring losses.
Addressing the joint session of the Pakistan assembly Bhutani said, "CPEC will not work against the will of the Balochistan people because this project is against the people of Balochistan people"
China is making huge investments in underdeveloped or poor countries ultimately setting them up for defaulting on China's loans and making compromises to China
Pakistan government officials and the army have been involved in suppressing public protests, blaming each other and looting the land's resources when the country's general suffers from an economic and food crisis.
Pakistan faced an economic crisis which is a result of its own faulty policies long-standing debts, dipping forex reserves and support to extremism and terrorism.
In the name of political empowerment, successive Pakistani governments have only given cosmetic reforms to the region. It is the Prime Minister-led Gilgit Baltistan council and not the GB Legislative Assembly that exercises de facto control over the region.
Successful completion of these and other rail construction projects would significantly deepen connectivity between China and its neighbors, potentially boosting Beijing's geopolitical and geoeconomic clout while shoring up China's domestic economy.
China-Taliban engagement is not new. The Taliban have been frequent visitors to China for years. Even in the 1990s, Beijing engaged with the Taliban to curb militants' infiltration into western China.
Pakistan's largest province is being robbed of its natural resources by China under the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC and the profits are being garnered by Chinese companies.