By Faisal Aziz GWADAR, Pakistan, March 20 (Reuters) - President Pervez Musharraf officially opened Pakistan's third port on Tuesday, at Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, and promised a fourth was on the way. Musharraf said Gwadar, which he opened with Chinese Minister of Communications Li Shenglin, would be a gateway for trade with Central Asia. China provided 80 percent of Gwadar's $248 million initial development costs. "Gwadar will become an industrial hub, energy corridor and container centre ... The area will become a hub and trade corridor for the whole region in a few years," Musharraf told a public gathering. Conceived over a decade ago, Pakistan hopes Gwadar, 70 km (45 miles) east of the Iranian border and on the doorstep of Gulf shipping lanes, will handle trans-shipment traffic for the Gulf and ports on the Arabian Peninsula. In February, Singapore port operator PSA International took over management control of the port for 40 years. Pakistan is keen to become a conduit for trade to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia and now has three major ports -- Gwadar in Baluchistan province and two at Karachi, 450 km (280 miles) to the east. Pakistan's fourth port will be built at Sonmiani, 160 km (100 miles) to the west of Karachi, also in Baluchistan. "The foundation stone for this port will be laid this year," Musharraf said, giving no further details. Security was tight around Gwadar for the opening ceremony, with thousands of soldiers and police guarding roads and fishermen ordered to stay well clear. "THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS" Baluchistan, Pakistan's biggest but poorest province, has been plagued for decades by a low-level insurgency by tribals seeking autonomy and control of gas and mineral resoures. Baluchistan has the country's largest gas reserves and is rich in minerals, including copper and uranium. Militants often attack pipelines, power transmission cables, railway tracks, buses and military and government installations. They also opposed construction of the port and claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in 2004 that killed three Chinese technicians and wounded nine. Musharraf, who has announced plans for major infrastructure projects to win the support of the province's people, said the feudal ways of Baluchistan's tribal chieftains had contributed to its underdevelopment. "Those are the people who want to suppress you and don't want to see a developed Baluchistan," Musharraf said. He called on the militants to put down their weapons and not stand in the way of development, or they would face tough action. "I warn these elements that they have no future, they will be eliminated," he said. The government says security forces have nearly quelled the revolt and the vast majority of separatist tribesmen have surrendered and joined the government side.
