CPEC will continue to face resistance: Baloch Diaspora France President

Baloch Diaspora France President Ali Akbar Mengal has said the China Pakistan Economic Project (CPEC), an initiative under the One Road, One Belt project that seeks to connect Pakistan's Gwadar port to Chinese Xinjiang Province, would continue to face stiff resistance by the Baloch people as the project intends to only benefit the Chinese and the Punjabis in Pakistan.

Describing the current phase as the fifth phase of the Baloch freedom movement, Mengal said, "Baloch will resist the CPEC, because they know very well that the project is not for the benefit of the Baloch people. The CPEC will only benefit the Chinese and Punjabis. So, we will resist it until there is last Baloch."

"As the Baloch resistance gets momentum in the Gwadar port, where this major portion of this CPEC is going to be constructed, Pakistan security agencies are also strengthening their harsh policies of kill and dump Baloch," he added.

Mengal further said that Pakistan security agencies have been tormenting the Blaoch people who have been raising their voice against the project.

"So, as this plan of the CPEC is started by China and Pakistan in Balochistan, worst kind of human rights violations have been happening. Earlier, Pakistan government tried to create a generation gap by killing all those who are young active people between the age of 16-40 years and especially the young educated class," he said.

Citing a report by the Human Rights Watch, Mengal said that more than 20,000 Baloch people went missing.

Baloch people and activists have been consistently protesting against the CPEC, alleging that Pakistan is only concerned about exploiting the resources of Balochistan for Beijing and its advantage.

Considered to be a part of China's One Belt, One Road initiative, the USD 51 billion CPEC will cover significant parts of Balochistan, Sindh and the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).