BEIJING – China has been quietly holding talks with Pakistani tribalseparatists for more than five years in an effort to protect the $60bnworth of infrastructure projects it is financing as part of theChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Three people with knowledge of the talks told the Financial Times thatBeijing had been in direct contact with militants in the south-westernstate of Baluchistan, where many of the scheme’s most important projectsare located. For more than half a century, Beijing has maintained a policyof non-interference in the domestic politics of other countries.

But that has been tested by its desire to protect the billions of dollarsit is investing around the world under its Belt and Road Initiative tocreate a “new Silk Road” of trade routes in Europe, Asia and Africa.

In Pakistan, Beijing appears keen to fill the void left by Washington,which has drifted from its former ally after becoming frustrated atIslamabad’s failure to tackle extremism.

Beijing’s willingness to get involved in Pakistani politics has fuelledconcerns in New Delhi, which is worried about China’s growing politicalinfluence in neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Myanmar and SriLanka. “The Chinese have quietly made a lot of progress,” said onePakistani official.

“Even though separatists occasionally try to carry out the odd attack, theyare not making a forceful push.” As it seeks to boost the Chinese economy,China’s plans for a new Silk Road has pitched Beijing into some of theworld’s most complex conflict zones.

The Belt and Road Initiative is portrayed as an economic project . . . but,increasingly, it has significant local political and strategic dimensionsRahul Roy-Chaudhury, International Institute for Strategic Studies Chinesepeacekeepers are already in South Sudan, where Beijing has invested inoilfields and is planning to build a rail line.

China has also contributed troops to a UN peacekeeping operation in Maliand even talked about launching attacks against Isis in Iraq, where it hasbeen the largest foreign investor in the country’s oil sector. Pakistan,which is set to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the infrastructureinitiative, is one of the riskiest parts of the world in which to dobusiness.

Last year 10 local workers were killed by unidentified gunmen while workingnear Gwadar port, the linchpin of the economic corridor. Some have warnedthat China’s investment could lead to Pakistan being treated like a clientstate by Beijing, despite promises that Chinese troops would not bestationed there.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is portrayed as an economic project to boostinfrastructure and connectivity but, increasingly, it has significant localpolitical and strategic dimensions,” said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, seniorfellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Pakistani officials, however, have welcomed the talks between Baluch rebelsand Chinese envoys, even if they do not know the details of what has beendiscussed. “Ultimately, if there’s peace in Baluchistan, that will benefitboth of us,” said one official in Islamabad.

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“[The Chinese] are here to stay and help Pakistan, unlike the Americans,who cannot be trusted,” the person said. Pakistan is planning to buyChinese military helicopters and components for surveillance drones as partof its plan to fortify its border with Afghanistan with a 2,600km-longfence.

Chinese officials did not comment on the talks, though the Chineseambassador to Islamabad said in a recent interview with the BBC thatmilitants in Baluchistan were no longer a threat to the economic corridor.

One provincial tribal leader said many young men had been persuaded to laydown their weapons by the promise of financial benefits. “Today, young menare not getting attracted to join the insurgents as they did some 10 yearsago,” he said. “Many people see prosperity” as a result of theChina-Pakistan corridor, he said.