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Why are India and Pakistan sceptic on ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’?

By Newsd
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Indian Parliament has unanimously passed a resolution in 1994 on Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution says that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India which avowed POK. She denied the involvement of any third party in the Jammu and Kashmir. But the two neighbours of India, China and Pakistan, are involved in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir before and after the 1994 resolution.They identified themselves as ‘all weather friends’. The new leadership of China began his ambitious project ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR), with Pakistan.China and Pakistan signed an agreement on Economic Corridor commonly known as CPEC, which is a part of OBOR. President Xi Jinping announced to rejuvenate China as he mentioned in his speech on the China Dream. So, in order to revive ancient Silk route, President of China announced OBOR. The purpose of this article is to articulate, how India and Pakistan view China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC)?

India’s concerned on CPEC

What is the intention of OBOR? OBOR is to develop the infrastructure, which connects China with Europe. China claims that it is for the trade and purely economic in nature. However, India is sceptical about OBOR in general and CPEC in particular. She is yet to sign OBOR.  India’s concern on CPEC is that it passes by the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Another concern for India is that ‘rising China’may use Gwadar port to the scrutinise of Indian Ocean Region (IOR). However, the geopolitics of China-Pakistan has attracted the world. European countries showed their interest in CPEC. Though, the project has been called a win-win situation for both the nation-state. Being a neighbour, it is not easy for India to trust two neighbours whom she had wars. Two neighbours are also in the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions.

Pakistan’s concern on CPEC

Pakistan too is sceptical on CPEC. Though, she has signed the 46 billion USD deal with China. Pakistan has also agreed to accept the additional loan on CPEC. The loans on CPEC are concessional loans. CPEC is now a project of more than 51 billion USD. However, if the project is a win-win for both the countries then, why are questions arose in Pakistan on CPEC? Pakistan’s senators are suspicious about this project. Questions that arose in the parliamentary committee and the leaders of different political parties in Pakistan are; a) Is CPEC serves Pakistan’s National interest? b) Is CPEC to boost India-China trade relations? c) Is it only beneficial to Punjab region of Pakistan? d) How to develop the underdeveloped regions of Pakistan like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? e) Senator Tahir Mashhadi, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development, has observed CPEC as‘another East India Company’.f) As reported in the newspaper ‘the Dawn’, Senator and Awami National Party (ANP), Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail said, at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development, “Whatever loans are taken from China will have to be paid by the poor people of Pakistan”. This is to say that poor Pakistani are not benefited from CPEC though they have to pay for CPECg) Concerns of political parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has demanded a greater share in the economic corridor for Sindh while the Awami National Party (ANP) claims that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been neglected yet again by Punjab. They criticised the CPEC as being the ‘China-Punjab Economic Corridor’. This is important to underline that criticism came from the Pakistan itself. This also shows that there is a difference of opinions in Pakistan on CPEC when parliamentary committee questioned the project like CPEC. This had attracted the attention of the world in general and country in particular. However, this is yet to be awin-win agreement for ‘all weather friends’. It is articulated here that China has greater control over CPEC than Pakistan.

China’s view on CPEC

Geo-politically China-Pakistan shares aland boundary. China via this project desired to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar port with that of Kashgar region of Xinjiang. Meanwhile, CPEC became a framework to connect and develop the regions of Pakistan and China. For China, this project is to rejuvenate the PRC. It is to develop the under-develop region of China. It will enhance the trade with China’s neighbours especially India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. If CPEC gets implemented than China can also involve Russia into a trade deal. Russia has faced challenges with the western European countries after the Ukraine crisis. China-Russia has also signed an agreement to enhance the energy sector. Both the countries has been criticised by Europe on the human rights violations within their country. CPEC may strengthen China’s economy which is in the transition.

Overview

Indian Parliament has unanimously passed a resolution. The resolution says that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India which avowed POK. She denied the involvement of any third party in the Jammu and Kashmir. However, when it was mentioned that CPEC includes POK, India has shown her concern by registered a protest in International society. But lawmakers, political parties and citizens of concerned regions are questioned the CPEC. For them, CPEC is a national interest of China, not of Pakistan. Hence Pakistan should see their national interest rather than China. For them, Pakistan’s national interest is to develop the under-develop regions within the country before looking CPEC. Political parties have criticised the CPEC as being the ‘China-Punjab Economic Corridor’. As analysed by the experts it is said that the Punjab province of Pakistan is sole beneficial from the CPEC. However, China has successfully played her diplomatic card with ‘all weather friend’ Pakistan. It is visible from the discussion of Pakistani lawmakers that Pakistan is undermining her own interest to serve China. China is getting benefit from the conflict between India and Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir.

 

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