China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Challenges from India and Afghanistan

Authors

  • Zhao Leibin Ph.D. Scholar, School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. He is a research fellow at the Center for Central and South Asia studies, Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Xian, China Author

Keywords:

India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, CPEC, BRI & Significance Concerns

Abstract

Afghanistan-Pak region has gained prominence because of the presence of terrorist groups that later were disbanded from Pakistani side in the wake of grand operations Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul-fasad. But Afghanistan remained an enigma even after the negotiation with the U.S. no feasible solution has been sought yet. This paper highlights the point that threat emanating from unstable Afghanistan poses serious threat to major projects of CPEC in Pakistan. Pakistan’s locals wherever CPEC is connecting will be beneficiaries of economic gains due to gradual process of industrialization. After the manufacturing starts in Pakistan, it will have potential to boost local industry and exports are likely to increase. Pakistan’s youth will have greater economic opportunities. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will boost local industry and impact development of infrastructure and improve supply chain in Pakistan. India being an immediate neighbor has serious concern about CPEC and Pakistan-China defence cooperation. Some analysts in India are of the view that Pakistan will benefit more in terms of defence equipment from China. The CPEC is purely an economic project and it has nothing to do with defence cooperation. Some Indian analysts had tried to make it controversial in the eyes of America and European nations (http://cpec.gov.pk). For the success of CPEC, Pakistan needs a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, normalization with India and a better security apparatus to oversee security concerns of CPEC projects. China being an investor and initiator of the project has very high stakes in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and similarly CPEC, being a flagship project of BRI has immense significance for China in terms of economy as well as strategic perspectives. Academia and media have been debating the peaceful rise of China over the last 10 year after witnessing China’s spectacular growth rate and the contribution of China in international affairs. China’s rise can be ensured if China does not have any challenger from immediate neighborhood. China’s economy surpasses the U.S. and China wins hearts and minds of African nations, Latin American Nations, European Nations and above all, Asian nations. It is not a small task that China can perform in a short span of time but China’s diplomatic ventures reflect China has achieved a lot and planning a lot more for the future (Daily Times, 2015) There are three challenges for China to manage that will smoothen China’s way to the status of great power equivalent to the U.S. 1. Managing conflict with the U.S. and avoid any escalation Zhao Leibin 306 Journal of Indian Studies 2. Completing BRI to offer more incentives to the stakeholders that they envisage from the BRI 3. Keeping external players away from the internal issues of China (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Uighurs etc.) Before discussing Challenges to CPEC from Afghanistan and India, there is a need to understand the economic and strategic potential of CPEC. 

 

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Published

2020-12-31

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Articles