China Deploys Troops Near India-Pak Border to Safeguard CPEC Projects

China has deployed a contingent of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to the Thar region of Sindh province in Pakistan to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The province is located about 90 kilometres away from Pakistan’s international border with India.

“The Border Security Force (of India) deployed at the India-Pakistan border has also noticed the movement of Chinese troops close to the border. It seems that due to the opposition of Chinese projects by locals in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, China has deployed its PLA,” an intelligence officer told Zee News.

“Officially, the deployment of troops by China is to protect their own citizens working in Pakistan in various projects and also to secure the safety of the CPEC from local people. But unofficially, it is the commencement of a military base in the interiors of the country (Pakistan),” Major General (Retired) Harsha Kakar told Sputnik.

“It could also be perceived to be a sort of restriction on India in case it attempts a military option against Pakistan. Although India would never go this deep inside Pakistan, but in the long run, the Chinese PLA could also be deployed much closer to our border. Finally, it signals the growing proximity between China and Pakistan and interdependence. No nation in its right senses would permit such a deployment,” Major Gen. Kakar added.

The multi-billion dollar CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan. Originally valued at 46 billion dollars, the actual cost of the projects has now crossed 62 billion dollars.