China-Operated Gwadar Port In Pakistan Attacked: 8 Gunmen Neutralised, Says Authorities

The Gwadar port authority complex in Pakistan's Balochistan province was attacked on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of all eight militants, according to chief minister Sarfraz Bugti.

Bugti announced on X that security forces had neutralized the eight terrorists who attempted to attack the complex. He emphasized that the state would show no mercy to those who resort to violence.

Photo Credit: X/ANI

Attack on China-Operated Port in Pakistan

A blast was reported to have preceded the firing, as per Geo News. Armed militants entered the Gwadar Port Authority Complex and initiated gunfire, accompanied by several explosions in the area.

According to reports from Dawn, police and security forces were heavily deployed at the scene under the supervision of Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani.

The attack was claimed by the Majeed Brigade, which is affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), as reported by The Express Tribune.

This incident follows a firm declaration by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating his government's intolerance towards any form of cross-border terrorism, as per Reuters report.

The Gwadar port holds significance for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which comprises multi-billion-dollar infrastructure and energy projects and is part of China President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China has made substantial investments in mineral-rich Balochistan and has developed Gwadar under the BRI, despite the historically violent separatist insurgency in the region.

The separatist group BLA opposes China's investments in Balochistan, accusing both China and Pakistan of exploiting the province's resources. Balochistan shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, as reported.