Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch has written an open letter to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, raising alarm over the expanding strategic partnership between Pakistan and China and warning that Beijing could deploy Chinese military forces in Balochistan in the coming months. The letter, dated January 1, 2026, highlights concerns that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship infrastructure initiative, has entered its final phase, creating conditions that could facilitate a permanent Chinese military presence in the resource-rich and restive province.
Mir Yar Baloch described continued Pakistan control over Balochistan as involving decades of repression, state-sponsored violence and human rights abuses, and argued that lack of support for local defence forces could leave the region vulnerable. He warned that any Chinese troop deployment “without the will of the 60 million Baloch people” would be an unimaginable threat to both India and Balochistan’s futures, affecting regional balance and security.
In his letter, the Baloch leader also praised India’s Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror operation following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, calling it a demonstration of India’s courage and commitment to regional security. He appealed for stronger cooperation between India and what he referred to as the “Republic of Balochistan” across defence, economic and geopolitical fronts.
China and Pakistan have repeatedly denied allegations of military intentions under CPEC, asserting the initiative is economic in nature. However, the warning from Mir Yar Baloch underscores deepening regional anxieties around China’s expanding footprint in South Asia and its potential implications for India’s security environment.
