What is CPEC?
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| Gwadar Port-the hub of CPEC |
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a network of infrastructure projects spread throughout Pakistan to improve regional connectivity and to galvanize Pakistani economy. The hub of CPEC is the Gwadar Port which is a strategic gateway that opens up into the Strait of Hormuz. Apart from Gwadar Port, the corridor includes energy projects of worth 34$ billion and a collection of road and rail tracks that will connect major Pakistani cities and Chinese Xinjiang with Gwadar in Pakistan. The initial investment on the CPEC projects was 46$ billion but this worth has now been increased by the inclusion of many other projects, and the net worth is now 62$ billion.
Why is China interested in CPEC?
The CPEC is primarily a part of the Chinese Silk Road project, an old route which the current Chinese President is trying to revive. This project is not only a manifestation of the deep relations that the two countries enjoy but is also a roadmap for the Chinese government to further its influence in the sole Islamic nuclear power. The construction of Gwadar Port is a part of Chinese string of pearls’ plan to build naval bases in the strategically important ports across the region.
Gwadar Port not only provides China a gateway to the Indian Ocean but also provides an alternative route to the vulnerable Malacca Strait. It also can serve as a military base for the Chinese Navy to help counter enemy navies in the Indian sea. The other important reason is the supply of Cheap Chinese goods to the foreign markets through road and sea passages and the import of raw materials for the Chinese manufacturing industry.
Why is India objecting to the Chinese-sponsored CPEC?
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| Chinese President, Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi |
The Republic of India has severely criticized massive Chinese investments in Pakistan. Some of the reasons for their apprehensions and open criticism are the following.
Firstly, CPEC passes through the Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan which Indians claim to be a part of their country.
Secondly, Chinese construction of Gwadar Port project, in the Baluchistan Province in Pakistan is a worrying sign for India because it thinks that the port provides a naval base to the Chinese military and thus helps China in asserting its naval dominance in the region. The Indian establishment is of the view that Chine is surrounding India from all the sides by constructing ports similar to Gwadar in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Burma under the so-called String of Pearls’ project.
Thirdly, India is worried about the deployment of Chinese troops in Pakistani region close to the border of India.
Fourthly, India thinks that the project is a ploy by China to help Pakistan contain growing Indian economy.
What is India doing to subvert CPEC?
India has heavily criticized both Pakistan and China for carrying out economic activity in the disputed region of Kashmir which they claim to be the Indian soil. The gravity of the situation was evident on the occasion of recent Silk Road summit in Beijing in which more than 50 countries and institutions participated except India.
It is claimed by the Pakistani security establishment that Indian security agencies are funding Baloch Separatists and religious extremists in the restive Balochistan Province to subvert China-Pakistan economic corridor. The arrest of Indian Naval commander, Kulbushan Yadav, from the very same province is a proof of the Indian involvement in the insurgency to disrupt Gwadar Port and CPEC.
India under the current rightwing Hindu government has come up in open support to the anti-Pakistan elements to put hindrances in the path of the mega project. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his speech on the Independence Day of India openly talked about his support for the anti-Pakistan elements.
India is also building a rival port in Iranian Chahbar to confront the strategic importance of Chinese-funded Pakistani Gwadar project. So far, Indian efforts in this regard have been unsuccessful due to American economic sanctions on Iran and lack of technical and financial capacity of India to operationalize Chahbar port.
Chinese and Pakistani take on the Indian criticism of the CPEC
China and Pakistan have downplayed Indian criticism by saying that the Project does in no way affect the disputed status of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Officials in both the countries went out of the way by offering India to be a part of CPEC as was also evident when Commander Southern Command of the Pakistani Army, Amir Riaz, invited India towards playing a constructive role in the project rather than disrupting it. The same words were echoed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry several times.
Pakistan has repeatedly invited India to hold a plebiscite in the Kashmir region to let people of the area decide their fate, but this offer is not acceptable to Indian security establishment.
About Muhammad Asim
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