How China, Pak arms deal is changing military dynamics in South Asia

Dispatch: Saudi Arabia to fund 10 billion dollar oil refinery in Pakistan

China has not asked for military access to Pakistan's Chinese-funded, deepwater port of Gwadar, a senior Pakistani rear admiral said on Friday, amid persistent speculation in India and the United States it could become a Chinese naval base.

Gwadar, in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, is the crown jewel of China`s $60 billion investment in Belt and Road Initiative projects in Pakistan.

The plan is to turn Gwadar into a trans-shipment hub and megaport to be built alongside special economic zones from which export-focused industries will ship goods worldwide. A web of energy pipelines, roads and rail links will connect Gwadar to China`s western regions.

Last year the Pentagon singled out Pakistan as a possible location for a future Chinese military base, though China has said that is pure speculation. Diplomatic and security sources see Gwadar as the likely location.

Speaking at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, which China styles as its answer to the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Rear Admiral Javaid Iqbal, Navy Secretary of the Pakistan Navy, said Gwadar is a "significant addition to the regional maritime landscape".

"Let me emphasise that the Gwadar port is purely a commercial venture and has no military overtones," he told the forum.

"Suitably located outside the potentially risky and confined waters of the Gulf, Gwadar has the potential to act not only as a transit port for China and Central Asia but also a trans shipment port impacting the prosperity of the entire region," Iqbal added.

Speaking later to Reuters, he said he was very specific about the non-military nature of the port.

"The Gwadar port has no military dimension. It will be just a commercial port," Iqbal said. "The Pakistan navy will maintain a presence to ensure maritime security, to ensure the security of the port."

"The geopolitical debate that somehow goes on in the media about Gwadar being used as a foreign military base is not correct at all."

Asked whether China had specifically asked for military access, he answered: "No, not at all".

China opened its first overseas military base, which it formally calls a logistics facility, in the Horn of Africa country Djibouti last year.

Djibouti's position on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean has fuelled worries in India that it would become another of China`s "string of pearls" of military alliances and assets ringing India, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

China has repeatedly downplayed expectations it could be about to embark on a plan to build military bases around the world, even as it ramps up an impressive military modernisation programme.

China has not asked for military access to Pakistan's Chinese-funded, deepwater port of Gwadar, a senior Pakistani rear admiral said on Friday, amid persistent speculation in India and the United States it could become a Chinese naval base.

China has not asked for military access to Pakistan's Chinese-funded, deepwater port of Gwadar, a senior Pakistani rear admiral said on Friday, amid persistent speculation in India and the United States it could become a Chinese naval base. Gwadar, in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, is the crown jewel of China`s $60 billion investment in Belt and Road Initiative projects in Pakistan. The plan is to turn Gwadar into a trans-shipment hub and megaport to be built alongside special economic zones from which export-focused industries will ship goods worldwide. A web of energy pipelines, roads and rail links will connect Gwadar to China`s western regions. Last year the Pentagon singled out Pakistan as a possible location for a future Chinese military base, though China has said that is pure speculation. Diplomatic and security sources see Gwadar as the likely location. Speaking at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, which China styles as its answer to the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Rear Admiral Javaid Iqbal, Navy Secretary of the Pakistan Navy, said Gwadar is a "significant addition to the regional maritime landscape". "Let me emphasise that the Gwadar port is purely a commercial venture and has no military overtones," he told the forum. "Suitably located outside the potentially risky and confined waters of the Gulf, Gwadar has the potential to act not only as a transit port for China and Central Asia but also a trans shipment port impacting the prosperity of the entire region," Iqbal added. Speaking later to Reuters, he said he was very specific about the non-military nature of the port. "The Gwadar port has no military dimension. It will be just a commercial port," Iqbal said. "The Pakistan navy will maintain a presence to ensure maritime security, to ensure the security of the port." "The geopolitical debate that somehow goes on in the media about Gwadar being used as a foreign military base is not correct at all." Asked whether China had specifically asked for military access, he answered: "No, not at all". China opened its first overseas military base, which it formally calls a logistics facility, in the Horn of Africa country Djibouti last year. Djibouti's position on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean has fuelled worries in India that it would become another of China`s "string of pearls" of military alliances and assets ringing India, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. China has repeatedly downplayed expectations it could be about to embark on a plan to build military bases around the world, even as it ramps up an impressive military modernisation programme.

China not asked for military access to Gwadar, Pakistan admiral says

A Chinese national, the managing director of a shipping firm in Pakistan, was killed in Karachi after being shot in the head by unidentified gunmen here in what police are calling a targeted attack.

Chen Zhu, who was hit in the head and later died in hospital.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-urges-pakistan-to-solve-chinese-citizens-killing-31996">China urges Pakistan to solve Chinese citizen&#39;s killing</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/chinese-national-shot-dead-in-karachi-31862">Chinese national shot dead in Karachi</a>

The incident highlights China&#39;s increased concern about its money invested and people working on projects in Pakistan.

The incident comes nearly two months after China warned its citizens in Pakistan to be on alert after receiving intelligence reports about possible attacks targeting Chinese.

Pakistan is becoming more dependent on China as relations with the US have hit a low.&nbsp;

China is ramping up investment as part of a $54 billion project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, upgrading infrastructure, power and transport links between its far-western Xinjiang region and Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port.

Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in the development of infrastructure projects under Beijing&#39;s &#39;Belt and Road&#39; initiative.&nbsp;

The port and road-building projects have come under frequent attacks in Balochistan.

Protecting employees of Chinese companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs who have followed the investment wave along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has been a concern for Chinese officials.

Last year, two Chinese nationals, believed to be Christian missionaries, were abducted from Quetta and killed by the Islamic State group in the restive Balochistan province.

The couple had reportedly been &quot;preaching&quot; in Balochistan under the garb of learning Urdu.

Pakistan faces an &quot;unprecedented situation whereby growing foreign direct investment is accompanied by a significant increase in the physical presence of foreign nationals,&quot; said a researcher of a security consultancy.&nbsp;

Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in the development of infrastructure projects under Beijing's 'Belt and Road' initiative.

A Chinese national, the managing director of a shipping firm in Pakistan, was killed in Karachi after being shot in the head by unidentified gunmen here in what police are calling a targeted attack. Chen Zhu, who was hit in the head and later died in hospital. Also read: China urges Pakistan to solve Chinese citizen's killing Also read: Chinese national shot dead in Karachi The incident highlights China's increased concern about its money invested and people working on projects in Pakistan. The incident comes nearly two months after China warned its citizens in Pakistan to be on alert after receiving intelligence reports about possible attacks targeting Chinese. Pakistan is becoming more dependent on China as relations with the US have hit a low. China is ramping up investment as part of a $54 billion project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, upgrading infrastructure, power and transport links between its far-western Xinjiang region and Pakistan's Gwadar port. Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in the development of infrastructure projects under Beijing's 'Belt and Road' initiative. The port and road-building projects have come under frequent attacks in Balochistan. Protecting employees of Chinese companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs who have followed the investment wave along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has been a concern for Chinese officials. Last year, two Chinese nationals, believed to be Christian missionaries, were abducted from Quetta and killed by the Islamic State group in the restive Balochistan province. The couple had reportedly been "preaching" in Balochistan under the garb of learning Urdu. Pakistan faces an "unprecedented situation whereby growing foreign direct investment is accompanied by a significant increase in the physical presence of foreign nationals," said a researcher of a security consultancy.

Concerns rise in China over CPEC after murder of its citizen in Pakistan

Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar post, an important destination in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become the hub of activity as the first shipment of seafood arrived in Urumqi, Northwest China&#39;s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The CPEC project, a flagship project of China&#39;s Belt and Road (B&amp;R) initiative has seen Gwadar&#39;s stocks rise among Chinese companies who have invested heavily in the port city.

&quot;The 1,150 kilograms of seafood represents the first time that Urumqi&#39;s airport was allowed to handle fresh goods from Pakistan,&quot; China&#39;s state-run Global Times said, adding that seafood and fruit can become &quot;bright spots&quot; in Pakistan&#39;s exports to China.

&Uuml;r&uuml;mqi which is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China has emerged as an important link in the CPEC chain.

The Gwadar port in Pakistan&#39;s restive Balochistan province has been developed under CPEC linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Most seafood and fruit from overseas arrive at Urumqi through ports in other provinces. This is the first time Urumqi airport has been allowed to handle fresh goods from Pakistan, China&#39;s Xinhua noted.

Urumqi airport has 41 international routes to 21 countries, mainly in central, west Asia and Russia.&nbsp;

Xinjiang is a key area for opening up to the west and a &quot;core area&quot; on the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinhua observed.

Meanwhile, India is keeping a close watch as China expands its naval force in Gwadar port, Chinese navy ships are expected to dock at the facility in the near future.

Last year, China has handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion CPEC project.

The Gwadar port in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has been developed under CPEC linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Pakistan's Gwadar post, an important destination in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become the hub of activity as the first shipment of seafood arrived in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The CPEC project, a flagship project of China's Belt and Road (B&R) initiative has seen Gwadar's stocks rise among Chinese companies who have invested heavily in the port city. "The 1,150 kilograms of seafood represents the first time that Urumqi's airport was allowed to handle fresh goods from Pakistan," China's state-run Global Times said, adding that seafood and fruit can become "bright spots" in Pakistan's exports to China. Ürümqi which is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China has emerged as an important link in the CPEC chain. The Gwadar port in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has been developed under CPEC linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Most seafood and fruit from overseas arrive at Urumqi through ports in other provinces. This is the first time Urumqi airport has been allowed to handle fresh goods from Pakistan, China's Xinhua noted. Urumqi airport has 41 international routes to 21 countries, mainly in central, west Asia and Russia. Xinjiang is a key area for opening up to the west and a "core area" on the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinhua observed. Meanwhile, India is keeping a close watch as China expands its naval force in Gwadar port, Chinese navy ships are expected to dock at the facility in the near future. Last year, China has handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion CPEC project.

Pak-China CPEC link: Gwadar port, Urumqi emerge as major trade centres

Nearly 40 geologists from China and Pakistan have teamed up to survey the Makran Trench in Balochistan following Beijing&#39;s concerns over the possibility of a massive earthquake affecting the strategic Gwadar port in the volatile province, a media report said today. 
 
The trench is the meeting point for two tectonic plates and is close to the Pakistani deep-sea port of Gwadar which China has acquired on a 40-year lease. 
 
Gwadar forms part of the important link for the over USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connecting to China&#39;s Xinjiang province through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). 
 
&quot;It has been more than 70 years since the last big earthquake shook the Makran Trench off the south coast of Pakistan but if and when the next catastrophic one happens, it could disturb more than the landscape,&quot; the Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported. 
 
Any potential disaster in the area could undermine Beijing&#39;s ambitions to revive trade from China through Asia to Africa and Europe through Gwadar port, the report said. 
 
That is why scientists from China and Pakistan have teamed up to survey the trench and assess the dangers lurking in the deep, it said. 
 
The trench is a seismically active zone in the Arabian Sea where one plate is inching beneath the other in a &quot;subduction zone&quot;. 
 
The last major earthquake was of 8.1 magnitude in 1945, which triggered a tsunami that battered Iran, Pakistan, Oman and India and killed around 4,000 people. 
 
Last year, a 6.3-magnitude quake hit the area. 
 
Despite the damage, not much is known about the zone. 
 
Seismologist Yang Hongfeng from Chinese University of Hong Kong said scientific expeditions in this part of the ocean were quite rare. 
 
&quot;A lot of important scientific questions remain unanswered,&quot; Yang said. 
 
&quot;The results will definitely advance our understanding&nbsp;[while] providing critical data to reduce the risk in the region,&quot; he was quoted as saying in the report. 
 
The quest is to get a better understanding of the subduction zone, which scientists say is unusual in part because it has a deposit of soft sediment several kilometres thick, Yang said. 
 
To find answers, roughly 40 researchers from the two countries boarded the Experimental 3-vessel for the trench last month, lowering instruments into the waters to do a &quot;CT scan&quot; of the Earth&#39;s structure. 
 
The expedition was a joint effort by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology in Guangzhou and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)in Pakistan. 
 
It was funded largely by the Chinese government-funded Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Asif Inam, NIO director general. 
 
&quot;The information and data being collected during the expedition would make a significant contribution to coastal developers and planners,&quot; Inam told South China Morning Post. 
 
The threat of an earthquake near the port is a big concern for both countries. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a whole lot at stake. The port, if fully developed and operationalised, can be a critical asset for Pakistan, and there&#39;s no nation that Pakistan would be more comfortable entrusting it to than its close friend China,&quot; Michael Kugelman, said a senior associate for South Asia at the US-based think tank Wilson Centre. 
 
Kugelman said the destructive impact that an earthquake or tsunami could have on the operations of the port should not be overstated, given that actual operations were still limited. 
 
&quot;Still, given issues of proximity and general vulnerability&nbsp;Pakistan doesn&#39;t cope or respond well to natural disasters, given a lack of resources and incapacity&nbsp;there&#39;s certainly reason to believe that intense earthquake activity would pose a clear and present danger to Gwadar,&quot; he was quoted as saying in the report.

 
&nbsp;

The trench is the meeting point for two tectonic plates and is close to the Pakistani deep-sea port of Gwadar which China has acquired on a 40-year lease

Nearly 40 geologists from China and Pakistan have teamed up to survey the Makran Trench in Balochistan following Beijing's concerns over the possibility of a massive earthquake affecting the strategic Gwadar port in the volatile province, a media report said today. The trench is the meeting point for two tectonic plates and is close to the Pakistani deep-sea port of Gwadar which China has acquired on a 40-year lease. Gwadar forms part of the important link for the over USD 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connecting to China's Xinjiang province through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "It has been more than 70 years since the last big earthquake shook the Makran Trench off the south coast of Pakistan but if and when the next catastrophic one happens, it could disturb more than the landscape," the Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported. Any potential disaster in the area could undermine Beijing's ambitions to revive trade from China through Asia to Africa and Europe through Gwadar port, the report said. That is why scientists from China and Pakistan have teamed up to survey the trench and assess the dangers lurking in the deep, it said. The trench is a seismically active zone in the Arabian Sea where one plate is inching beneath the other in a "subduction zone". The last major earthquake was of 8.1 magnitude in 1945, which triggered a tsunami that battered Iran, Pakistan, Oman and India and killed around 4,000 people. Last year, a 6.3-magnitude quake hit the area. Despite the damage, not much is known about the zone. Seismologist Yang Hongfeng from Chinese University of Hong Kong said scientific expeditions in this part of the ocean were quite rare. "A lot of important scientific questions remain unanswered," Yang said. "The results will definitely advance our understanding [while] providing critical data to reduce the risk in the region," he was quoted as saying in the report. The quest is to get a better understanding of the subduction zone, which scientists say is unusual in part because it has a deposit of soft sediment several kilometres thick, Yang said. To find answers, roughly 40 researchers from the two countries boarded the Experimental 3-vessel for the trench last month, lowering instruments into the waters to do a "CT scan" of the Earth's structure. The expedition was a joint effort by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology in Guangzhou and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)in Pakistan. It was funded largely by the Chinese government-funded Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Asif Inam, NIO director general. "The information and data being collected during the expedition would make a significant contribution to coastal developers and planners," Inam told South China Morning Post. The threat of an earthquake near the port is a big concern for both countries. "There's a whole lot at stake. The port, if fully developed and operationalised, can be a critical asset for Pakistan, and there's no nation that Pakistan would be more comfortable entrusting it to than its close friend China," Michael Kugelman, said a senior associate for South Asia at the US-based think tank Wilson Centre. Kugelman said the destructive impact that an earthquake or tsunami could have on the operations of the port should not be overstated, given that actual operations were still limited. "Still, given issues of proximity and general vulnerability Pakistan doesn't cope or respond well to natural disasters, given a lack of resources and incapacity there's certainly reason to believe that intense earthquake activity would pose a clear and present danger to Gwadar," he was quoted as saying in the report.

China, Pakistan survey Makran Trench over quake threat to Gwadar

Unidentified<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-should-not-look-at-cpec-from-indian-perspective-pak-minister-iqbal-to-trump-administration-22339"> men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled </a>grenades at a labourers&#39; hostel in Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port which is a key link for China&#39;s &quot;One Belt and One Road&quot; project.

The Gwadar port in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sino-india-relations-heads-for-freezer-over-cpec-dispute-11472">Pakistan&#39;s restive Balochistan province has been</a> developed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

&quot;They labourers were having dinner at the hostel when motorcyclists attacked them with a grenade,&quot; police official Imam Bakhsh told Reuters.

In January, China had handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion CPEC project.

The Chinese government is expected to provide two more ships to the Pakistan Navy which have been named Dasht and Zhob after two districts in Balochistan.&nbsp;

China has not only rebuilt the Gwadar port but also has its operational control.

It is also building a network of roads and railways to link up its remote western region to Gwadar for easier access to the Arabian Sea.

The Gwadar port which is a key link for China's "One Belt and Road" project

Unidentified men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled grenades at a labourers' hostel in Pakistan's Gwadar port which is a key link for China's "One Belt and One Road" project. The Gwadar port in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has been developed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. "They labourers were having dinner at the hostel when motorcyclists attacked them with a grenade," police official Imam Bakhsh told Reuters. In January, China had handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion CPEC project. The Chinese government is expected to provide two more ships to the Pakistan Navy which have been named Dasht and Zhob after two districts in Balochistan. China has not only rebuilt the Gwadar port but also has its operational control. It is also building a network of roads and railways to link up its remote western region to Gwadar for easier access to the Arabian Sea.

China's OBOR: Pakistan's Gwadar port attacked, 26 injured

Russia has taken serious objection to the &quot;leak&quot;&nbsp;by the Pakistani authorities, in their media, about the visit of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian External Intelligence service&nbsp;(FSB)&nbsp;to Pakistan between November 25 to 27.

The visit which was designed to garner Pakistani support for operations in Aleppo, Syria, was compromised by pro-Saudi factions within the Pakistani establishment, according to&nbsp;sources.

According to leaks in the Pakistani media, during this visit, Bortnikov besides discussing Aleppo&nbsp;held consultations with Pakistani military and intelligence agencies amd showed&nbsp;interest in Russia joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

The project proposed that Russia and Pakistan initiate bilateral cooperation vis-a-vis the Gwador port,&nbsp;especially with regard to transfer of goods and services, and also requested Russian access, to the port.

Russia sees CPEC as a major challenge to its area domination by China and is working on Pakistan to open avenues for Moscow to get involved in the Gwadar gateway, something which has been a Russian dream for decades and was the prime reason for the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 as a first step towards reaching Gwadar.

While some elements within the Pakistan Army are keen to get involved with Russia, the predominant mood is against Moscow, given its antagonistic relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Sources say that the Pakistan Army is against having a close relationship with Russia as Saudi Arabia is and has been a tried and tested friend.

It was this influential section of the establishment which reportedly leaked the highly secret visit to Pakistan by the head of Russia&#39;s&nbsp;premier intelligence service.&nbsp;

(ANI)

The visit aimed at Pakistani support for operations in Aleppo. Russian entry to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor was also discussed

Russia has taken serious objection to the "leak" by the Pakistani authorities, in their media, about the visit of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Russian External Intelligence service (FSB) to Pakistan between November 25 to 27. The visit which was designed to garner Pakistani support for operations in Aleppo, Syria, was compromised by pro-Saudi factions within the Pakistani establishment, according to sources. According to leaks in the Pakistani media, during this visit, Bortnikov besides discussing Aleppo held consultations with Pakistani military and intelligence agencies amd showed interest in Russia joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The project proposed that Russia and Pakistan initiate bilateral cooperation vis-a-vis the Gwador port, especially with regard to transfer of goods and services, and also requested Russian access, to the port. Russia sees CPEC as a major challenge to its area domination by China and is working on Pakistan to open avenues for Moscow to get involved in the Gwadar gateway, something which has been a Russian dream for decades and was the prime reason for the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 as a first step towards reaching Gwadar. While some elements within the Pakistan Army are keen to get involved with Russia, the predominant mood is against Moscow, given its antagonistic relationship with Saudi Arabia. Sources say that the Pakistan Army is against having a close relationship with Russia as Saudi Arabia is and has been a tried and tested friend. It was this influential section of the establishment which reportedly leaked the highly secret visit to Pakistan by the head of Russia's premier intelligence service. (ANI)

Pakistan authorities 'leak' Russian intelligence chief's November visit

Pakistan&#39;s prime minister and army chief welcomed on Sunday the first large shipment of Chinese goods through the renovated port of Gwadar, part of a trade link between western China and the Arabian Sea.

The deep-water port in Pakistan&#39;s southwestern province of Baluchistan is key to the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that also encompasses roads and energy projects.

&quot;Pakistan is located at the intersection of three engines of growth in Asia - South Asia, China and Central Asia,&quot; Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said at a ceremony on Sunday.

&quot;CPEC will help in integrating these regions into an economic zone offering great opportunities for people of the region as well as investors from all over the world.&quot;

Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif also attended Sunday&#39;s ceremony at the port, which is expected mostly to see imports of building materials in the next year before eventually becoming a gateway for goods from western China&#39;s Xinjiang province.

The port ceremony came a day after a bomb in another part of Baluchistan killed at least 52 people at a Muslim shrine in an attack claimed by Islamic State.

Baluchistan is home to an ethnic nationalist insurgency as well as operations by sectarian militants including Lashkar-e-Jangvi, which has previously said it partners with Islamic State&#39;s Middle East-based leadership.

Pakistan has raised a dedicated security force to protect CPEC projects. The prime minister on Sunday vowed that attacks would not derail any of the work, while expressing condolences to victims of the shrine attack.

&quot;Our hearts are saddened and thoughts are with the innocent victims&#39; families,&quot; he said.

&quot;But at the same time, &quot;I want to re-emphasise that such cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve to eliminate the menace of extremism and terrorism from our country in all forms.&quot;

(Reuters)

The port is key to the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that also encompasses roads and energy projects

Pakistan's prime minister and army chief welcomed on Sunday the first large shipment of Chinese goods through the renovated port of Gwadar, part of a trade link between western China and the Arabian Sea. The deep-water port in Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan is key to the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that also encompasses roads and energy projects. "Pakistan is located at the intersection of three engines of growth in Asia - South Asia, China and Central Asia," Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said at a ceremony on Sunday. "CPEC will help in integrating these regions into an economic zone offering great opportunities for people of the region as well as investors from all over the world." Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif also attended Sunday's ceremony at the port, which is expected mostly to see imports of building materials in the next year before eventually becoming a gateway for goods from western China's Xinjiang province. The port ceremony came a day after a bomb in another part of Baluchistan killed at least 52 people at a Muslim shrine in an attack claimed by Islamic State. Baluchistan is home to an ethnic nationalist insurgency as well as operations by sectarian militants including Lashkar-e-Jangvi, which has previously said it partners with Islamic State's Middle East-based leadership. Pakistan has raised a dedicated security force to protect CPEC projects. The prime minister on Sunday vowed that attacks would not derail any of the work, while expressing condolences to victims of the shrine attack. "Our hearts are saddened and thoughts are with the innocent victims' families," he said. "But at the same time, "I want to re-emphasise that such cowardly attacks cannot weaken our resolve to eliminate the menace of extremism and terrorism from our country in all forms." (Reuters)

Pakistani PM welcomes first large Chinese shipment to Gwadar port

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