Pakistan refuses to hand over Gwadar airport to China, Beijing halts talks
Islamabad. Gwadar port, an important part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is now causing a rift in relations between the two countries. Islamabad says that the port, built with substantial Chinese investment, belongs entirely to Pakistan and will not be handed over to any 'foreign power'.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch categorically rejected reports of handing over Gwadar port to China or any other country to set up a military base. Baloch clearly said that 'Gwadar port is for the development of Pakistan.' The Pak Foreign Ministry made it clear that there is no reason to give the important port of Gwadar to any other country.
This statement of the Pak Foreign Ministry has come at a time when the inauguration of the new international airport developed with the help of China in Gwadar on January 1, 2025 was postponed indefinitely for the third time. Gwadar Airport is also an important part of CPEC being built under China's dream project Belt and Road Initiative.
Gwadar port has become a burden for Pakistan
According to the information, Pakistan has not gained anything other than loans through Gwadar port. Since its opening in 2016, the movement of ships from Gwadar airport is negligible. Whereas Gwadar port was developed by calling it 'Dubai of the future'. While 441 ships passed through Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, which was started simultaneously, in 2023, only 17 ships passed through Gwadar port in the whole year.
On the other hand, whatever loan was given to the Pakistan government for the construction of the port from Chinese banks went back to China through Chinese companies for the development of the port. Whereas Pakistan got nothing other than loans. Whatever little revenue comes from the stopping of ships, 90 percent of it also goes to the Chinese company responsible for the operation of the port.
Pakistan started bargaining
Recently a high level meeting was held between senior government and military officials of Pakistan and China, in which the future use of the strategic Gwadar port was discussed and negotiated. According to media reports, Islamabad has demanded from Beijing that if China wants to build a military base in Gwadar, then it should equip Pakistan with 'Nuclear Second Strike Capability'. This capability means assured nuclear retaliation on the attacking country in case of a nuclear attack. This capability is currently only with the US, Russia and to a limited extent with countries like China and India.
Distance from China to please Trump in America
Experts say that the deadlock over the Gwadar port could be Pakistan's ploy to blackmail China. By refusing to give Gwadar to China, Pakistan is actually trying to build better relations with the US during the tenure of the upcoming US President Donald Trump.
China canceled diplomatic and military talks midway: According to media reports, Beijing did not like this threatening and bargaining tone of Pakistan. Therefore, China flatly rejected Pakistan's demand and postponed future talks with Islamabad indefinitely.
