After Opposing Chinese Activity, Baloch Rebels Warn Canadian Gold Mining Firm To Stay Away From Balochistan

After opposing Chinese activity in the region, Baloch rebel outfits have now warned a Canadian mining firm to either stay away from Balochistan's mineral resources or prepare for deadly attacks.

The warning comes as Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold is planning to mine an area known as Reko Diq in Chagai district in Balochistan, which is home to one of the world's largest undeveloped deposits of copper and gold.

The company, after a legal dispute and years of out-of-court negotiations, reached an agreement with Pakistan government to move forward in March.

The firm is likely to seal a deal with Pakistan government this month.

The deal will be followed by by a feasibility study later this year and the production is likely to start within five years.

However, soon after the firm reached an agreement with Pakistani government in March, BRAS, an umbrella organisation of four Baloch insurgent groups, issued a warned the company of deadly attacks if it does not stay away from Balochistan's mineral resources.

Last week, Allah Nazar, the leader of Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), one of the BRAS members, issued similar threats to the Canadian firm in a video released on social media.

Baloch rebels insists that foreigners should not be investing in Balochistan or exploiting its resources for Pakistan's benefit, according to a Nikkei Asia report.

The Baloch rebels have also been threatening Chinese assets in an effort to disrupt foreign investment that cash-strapped Pakistan's economy needs.

To oppose Chinese activity in the region, a Baloch suicide bomber targeted the Confucius Institute of Karachi University earlier in April this year.

As many as four people were killed in the attack, including three Chinese staff members and a Pakistani driver.

Earlier last year, a bomber last year targeted Chinese engineers escorted by security forces in the southern Balochistan port of Gwadar.