The Karachi stock exchange in Pakistan’s financial hub has just been attacked in the past few hours by armed separatist militants, who killed three security before being neutralized. This marks one of the most memorable terrorist attacks in Pakistan in decades. The four militants were killed but it indicates that unrest is growing amidst the pressure of economic collapse brought on by lockdown and covid. I write about this because I have travelled to the general region in the past and want to go there again soon, but this unrest is a cause for personal concern.
Naturally trading was halted as staff inside the building took shelter during the skirmish. I presume Pakistan is familiar with occasional clashes, so this is nothing too unusual. The separatist group known as the Baluchistan Liberation Army appear to be the usual suspects in this kind of attack. They last attacked the Chinese Consulate in 2018, killing two people. Their real concern or grievance is the takeover of Pakistan by China. Colonialism is now creeping in from the east and not from the west. In the guise of loans or infrastructure projects, China is gradually applying economic colonialism by placing Pakistan in debt to the CCP of China.
Not only is China looking for regional hegemony, but they ultimately want to dominate the planet. By leasing the Pakistan southern post of Gwadar, China is securing its “Belt and Road initiative” and specifically enabling their import of oil from neighboring Iran.
Not only hat but China is also working on the construction of a major road from the port in the south all the way up the length of Pakistan to China’s own border in the north. In the guise of economic and developmental aid, China is surreptitiously claiming Pakistan for strategic purposes. This is what is angering the Baluchistan militant group, whose territory is possibly under threat. Nobody wants a domineering bigger neighbor to start dictating their demands to you. It must be hard for Pakistan, squeezed between enemies at the east and bullies at the northern borders.
Remember China’s iron hand in a velvet glove is not going to end well for the smaller nations being exploited by China’s apparent friendliness. The unrest on China’s southern borders will probably increase as time goes on and they pursue expansionist policies into the foreseeable future. Even here in South Africa, we are beholden to our big brother China for aid, loans and more. We are also becoming a province of China in the new world map being drawn up in the wake of the global financial reshuffle and reset after covid lockdown.
This year could well see China making some big attempts at a push towards global power and the creation of a multipolar world, particularly as they move away form the petro-dollar and begin to favor their own currency for oil trade with Iran. I hope you guys are safe there in Pakistan, the tensions are rising, whether internal or external. We may be entering into an era of increasing conflict. The uncertainty is all-pervading this year so be prepared for the worst but hope for the best. And watch out for those economic bullies that are infiltrating your borders at present. The iron hand in the velvet glove may not be all that it appears to be. We could be selling out all our natural resources and facilities and be left holding the bag when it comes to the crunch. Sri Lanka has the same debt problem to China now and has basically lost one of its deep water ports in the same way. It’s only a matter of time before we are second class citizens in our own countries if China have their way. Mandarin anyone?
(image: historic tombs in Karachi from pixbay)