ISLAMABAD — Attacks by separatist militants in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan are aimed at stopping development projects that form part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.

The assaults that began on Sunday, killing more than 70, were the most widespread in years by ethnic militants seeking to win secession of the resource-rich province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and a gold and copper mine.

“The terrorists want to stop CPEC and development projects,” Sharif said in a televised address to cabinet, adding that the militants also wanted to drive a wedge between Islamabad and Beijing.

CPEC, said to have development commitments worth $65 billion, is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative.

Pakistan has not been able to fully build the infrastructure needed to tap mineral resources in poverty-stricken Balochistan, and has sought China’s help in developing the province.

In Beijing, China condemned the attacks and vowed to maintain its support for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.

“China is ready to further strengthen counter-terrorism security co-operation with the Pakistani side in order to jointly maintain regional peace and security,” Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson, told a regular news briefing.
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