Javed Siddique
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has a potential to change the dynamics of power politics in the South Asian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern regions. It is a fate changer for the whole region on one side but on the other side, its socioeconomic diversity and strategic location have produced a conflict like situation among the regional states.
CPEC is an irreplaceable part of the China’s multi-national One Belt One Road (OBOR) strategic initiative. Approximately, it’s a 60 billion dollar Chinese investment in Pakistan. It connects three engines of growth in South Asia, China and Central Asia with Pakistan. Almost 3.5 billion people, half of the world population would be taking benefits from this joint economic market that CPEC going to form.
In the context of Pak-India rivalry, India never bothers to see progressed and prosper Pakistan. So, India is now very much worried about CPEC’s strategic orientation and that completion may harm India’s eastward policy especially with Central Asian countries.
Reportedly, Indian spy agency, Research and Analyses Wing (RAW) is doing its utmost to sabotage the credibility of CPEC. On the same foot step Indian premier Nagendra Modi’s non-traditional foreign posturing and statements during so many international official tours are evident of Indian aggression to defame Pakistan on an international level and to damage Pakistan’s credibility and reliability of being the frontline state in the war against terrorism. Indian spies are brutally engaged in different destructive activities throughout Pakistan, especially in the regions like FATA, KPK, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK, respectively.
Not just for India, CPEC’S geographical location, economic and strategic viability also seems to be a reason for concern for some Middle Eastern states as well. Those have some serious concern over this project of CPEC, especially about its sea-routs policy.
Iranian concerns also would affect the sustainability of CPEC, because in very near future it may undermine Iran’s geopolitical and geostrategic importance among the world community. Iran and Indian joint ventures have already initiated many mega projects to mitigate the repercussions of CPEC; their special focus would be on its sea routes.
The Uncle Sam is also not in the favor to let the Chinese troops get safe access to the Indian Ocean which going to become a reality in form of CPEC. This project also may produce serious dents in US, South East and East Asia policies. To overcome its effect recently, America and India concluded, “Strategic Military Agreement”. On the one hand which seems to be a long term remedy to counter the unlimited socioeconomic benefits of CPEC and on the other hand to confront China’s onward march to enter in Central Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe.
CPEC just not would be facing challenges internationally; it also is a reason to change the internal political and social scenarios in Pakistan. Pakistan is a leading country, where its internal political, social and law and order situations would also be problematic for the implementation and practicability of CPEC.
Its impacts on Pakistan’s domestic politics would contribute conflict of interest among the provinces. Inappropriate distribution of multidimensional and technologically advanced projects may increase the inferiority of complex among the provinces. If this thing is happen then, internal politics among the provinces would be centric to acquire their appropriate bunch of share from the central government. This internal rope pulling attempt would be a big reason to hinder the way of timely completion of CPEC’s communication lines and infrastructural projects in Pakistani territory.
For the completion and sustainability of CPEC, the role of Pak-Army is very crucial and undeniable. Due to its economic viability and strategically important location, no one can deny it would face security threats in all frontiers. Pak-China’s rival countries would leave no stone unturned to sabotage the smooth and prompt progress of this project. To hinder these evil nature enemies of Pak-China everlasting friendship the Pak-Army is having a front line and leading role. On its part, Pak-Army formed a complete mechanism to protect the interests of the regional game changing project (CPEC).
Every country has this right to defend its own vested interest because foreign policy of any country must not be formed on the so-called good wishes of any other country. Instead of so many challenges, this project is going to decide the fate of world’s geopolitics and may supersede the American notion of occupying and loot by economic cooperation among the world community. In the context of Pakistan, we can hope CPEC would harness Pakistan’s geopolitical position into geo-economics.
Writer is a team member of Balochistan Voices. He is a M.Phil (scholar) in Political Science from the University of Karachi and working as a General Councilor in the incumbent Local Government UC-Pishukan, District Gwadar Balochistan.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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