Syeda Mazhar
The bilateral context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is rooted in friendship of the two countries. For decades China has proven to be a constant friend for Pakistan. Maintaining close relationship with China is part of Pakistan’s foreign policy as China is Pakistan’s strategic partner in the East. It helps Pakistan maintain balance of power in the region, and with one of the leading nations like China by her side, Pakistan has gained significant importance in the region. China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a gateway to mutual remuneration for both the countries as it has potential of making Pakistan one of the most strategically important countries in the region.
The Chinese President visited Gwadar for the inauguration of the Gwadar Port, one of the key components of CPEC. The President of China announced a total of $45 billion investment in energy and infrastructure. It is expected that this mammoth investment will provide the locals with job opportunities, development in infrastructure, and provide power and energy to the already energy starved Pakistan. All of which will aid Pakistan in developing a strong socio-economical stand. Apart from focusing on energy and infrastructure, CPEC will also improve the quality of life through social and economic interventions. It also seeks to establish special economic zones, which will tremendous trade and economic opportunities. Ahsan Iqbal said that development of Gwadar port & airport and construction of eastern, western and central alignments would connect all the provinces and regions of the country and would turn the country into manufacturing hub.
This project, as said, doesn’t only benefit Pakistan but for China it is extremely profitable. Gwadar Port will greatly reduce China’s trade route from 12000 kilometers via sea, to 2000 kilometers via land i.e. from Kashgar to Gwadar. It will also help revive the ancient trade route, the Silk Road, which started nearly 2400 years ago. In future, China can also use Gwadar to build a naval base which will increase influence of China in the region. Furthermore, all the oil shipments from the GCC countries will be shipped via Pakistan to China. Also, non-oil goods could be imported to the world using Gwadar as a transit route, making Gwadar equally or more important than the Suez Canal of Egypt.
Along with its turnover, to execute anything big comes with challenges and this project is no exception.In order to make CPEC a success, there are some fundamental issues, which should be taken care of; these include terrorism, provision of special security, creation of new special economic zones, etc. Foreign rivals who want Gwadar port to fail, have already started highlighting issues on mainstream, as well as social media, through their Pakistani aides-de-camp, about missing persons. Campaigning under the banner of “Un-silencing Baluchistan”, they are working to escalate the issue of Baluchistan liberation. On the other hand, terrorist organizations like the foreign-funded Baluchistan Liberation Army are also looking for an opportunity to target pipelines and trade routes of CPEC, once full-fledged construction begins. The idea of the China Pakistan Economic corridor is an eyesore for India. They will do whatever it takes to hinder the development in the region, especially the one which allows Pakistan to enjoy a more important strategic position in the area.
Even though the Military relationship between Pakistan and China are extremely strong, and are primarily based on geopolitical alliance, aimed at countering Indo-American influence in the region, the local Baluchistan Leaders are still skeptical about the intentions of the government of Pakistan and China. The indigenous people of the coastal town of Gwadar very much have their own opinions when it comes to reaping the benefits from this $46 billion project. As such, concern is rising over speculation that the project will benefit only Chinese interests, with little to offer locals. “It is a conspiracy to convert the local population into a minority, rather than empowering them,” said Syed Essa Noori, a Baloch Nationalist Party legislator in Pakistan’s National Assembly.
CPEC is also expected to overcome the challenges it faces, most notably a lack of political will and a surge in Baloch militancy. In late August, heavily armed militants stormed an airport and destroyed its radar system, killing two engineers in the coastal town of Jiwani in Gwadar district. The airport is located strategically near the Pakistan-Iran coastal border.
A large number of construction companies working in Gwadar were never safe in Baluchistan. But the question is that who is actually behind the unrest in the province. Frontier Corps (FC) Baluchistan chief, Major General Sher Afgan and the powerful Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency both blame Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies. At a recent conference in Quetta, Afgan said that India and Afghanistan were behind subversive activities to disrupt peace in the province. He also claimed to have foiled their plots on several occasions. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that Pakistan would raise the issue of Indian involvement in terrorism activities in Pakistan at the international level.
Poverty is the root element of the conflict. Apart from security challenges, Baluchistan has been hit by both abject poverty and unemployment. The ratio of poor here is much higher than it is in other parts of Pakistan, despite the fact that Baluchistan is endowed with rich reserves of gas, oil, coal, gold and copper. Pakistan should also tackle corruption to control the expenses of the project and ensure that projects don’t get delayed due to corruption and unethical practices. Pakistan needs to provide guaranteed security, for Chinese can shelf the project if they see non-performance from the government, which will hurt Pakistan’s image on the International level. Curbing terrorism, providing security for the trade corridor and ensuring the project is executed and completed on time, are the key fundamentals to make China Pakistan Economic Corridor a successful trade route in the region.
