GEOPOLITICAL AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF BALOCHISTAN’S COASTAL BELT
Keywords:
Geo-strategic, Geo-political, Balochistan, Coastline, Arabian Sea, Gwadar Port, CPECAbstract
The coastal belt of Baluchistan holds high importance. This study attempts to explain the surrounding circumstances and the strategic viability of Balochistan’s coastline. The location of various port towns and areas adjacent to the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz promises important advantages for Pakistan in Indian Ocean region. The geographical layout of Gwadar, Jiwani, Ormara and Pasni at the juncture of Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia act as an instrument of sea power for Pakistan as well as for China under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The presence of military and naval bases alongside the roads and airports has enhanced regional and maritime security of Pakistan. Gwadar deep seaport has the capability to connect land locked Central Asia, the resourceful Middle East and populous South Asia. Gwadar port has enlarged the strategic depth of Pakistan. Makran Coastal Highway has linked all the important coastal places with the rest of Pakistan. The future dynamics of geopolitical interests in Indian Ocean will further promote the role of Balochistan coastline for Pakistan. This paper is an account of geopolitical and strategic aspects of different areas on Balochistan coastal belt. The paper is a qualitative study mainly based on literature review method and data is collected from newspapers, research articles, books and theses. Primary data is collected from relevant experts in the form of interviews.
References
Ahmad, A. Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea, The Pakistan Observer, February 28, 2016
Akhtar. N. (2018), February 26). Personal interview
Ashraf, A. Regional Connectivity, Daily Times, December 2, 2016.
Axmann, M. (2008). Back to the Future, UK: Oxford University Press, p.157 Ali,N. Pakistan as a maritime country, The Nation, March 03, 2016
Ali,A. location of Pakistan in Asia, The Frontier Post, December 28, 2015 Arbab, M. Jinnah Naval Base, The Pakistan army proposals, January 13, 2016 Abbas, A. Pakistan as a security state, The Nation, October 17, 2011
Baloch, M.A. (1999). Inside Ormara, Quetta: Nissa Traders, p83
Baluch, S. (2002). Political Economy of Baluchistan, Karachi: Express
Publishers.
Barendse, R.J. (2002).The Arabian Sea, New Yor:An East Gate Book
Bugti, M. (1979). Baluchistan through the ages: Geography and History,
Quetta: Nisa Traders, p. 582
Dales, G. and Lipo, C. (1992). Exploration of Makran Coast: Pakistan, a
search for paradise, University of California Archaeological
Research Facility, Berkeley USA
Dominguez, G. Pakistan sets up instrumental weapons test range at Sonmiani,
IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly, Febraury 7, 2018
Faisal &Raheela. (2015). Coastal Development in Pakistan-An Integrated approach to Internal Security and Economic Growth.A journal of the Arm Forces War College, National Defense University,
Islamabad,3 (1), 19-36
Gertz, B. China Building military Base in Pakistan, The Washington Times,
January 03 2018.
Hassan,G. Chabahar & Gwadar: India and Pakistan’s Regional Power
Struggle, Daily Dawn, December 03,2017.
Hali, S. M. Pakistan’s EEZ extension, The Pakistan Army Proposal,
November 06, 2015.
Hussain, S.(2015). Politico- Strategic and Economic importance of Gwadar,
Lambert academic publishing, Germany
Hashmi, Q. Why is the Indian Ocean vital for Pakistan’s economic Interests,
Eurasian Times, April 13,2018
Haroon, H. (2004). Karachi under the Raj, 1843-1947, Karachi: Pakistan
Herald Publication
Ilyas,S. CPEC and Regional Callenges, The News, February 03 2018.
Iftikhar, M. Maritime Security Governance: Pakistan Perspective, a journal of Governance and Management Review Vol.1, No.1, May-
June 2016, p.10, retrieved from www.google.com, access date
/11/2017
Jan, W. Sea Power, The News, December 27, 2016.
Jamil, M. CPEC – a game changer, Pakistan Observer, August 16, 2017
Khan, M. (2017, June 15). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: A Game
Changer. Daily Dawn
Khokhar, R. An ungrateful ally, The Nation, February 18,2018.
Khan, F. Physical Infrastructure on the Coast, Daily Observer, November 20,
Kiani, K. Energy investment under CPEC shifted to hydropower sector, March
, 2018
Malik, H. Hub, Pakistan, Gulf Economist, May 03, 2017.
Mehmmod, A. Impacts of Climate Change, The Nation, October 15, 2009 Molesworth,F. (1902). Ten thousand miles in Persia or Eight years in Iran,
London: J.Murray Publication
Nazir. K. (2018, December 03). Personal interview
Shah, F. Scope of tourism in Pakistan, The Nation, May 25, 2015
Sehgal, I. Geo political value of coastal location, A journal of the Arm Forces
War College, National Defense University, Islamabad: Vol. 10, No 1 June 2007, p. 86, retrieved from www.google.com, access date 12/09/2017.
Sallin,L. Don’t be alarmed but China could be building a military base in Pakistan, Daily Caller, January 01, 2018.
Sultan, F. Gwadar: The Harbinger of Security and prosperity, A Journal of PoliticalScience, Vol. XXIII, issue, spring 2012, retrieved from www.google.com, access date 15/01/2018
Siddique, S. Lagging behind: 2040, Pakistan’s space odyssey, The Express Tribune, August 1, 2012
Saleem, F. Dimensions of CPEC, The News, January o9, 2017
Usman. M. (2017, June 17). Personal interview
Tiwana, M. A H. Pakistan’s Security Concerns and the Navy, The Defense,
April 20, 2002
Toor, A. A. Why Astola Iceland is hidden gem of Pakistan, Daily
Dawn,December
