Pakistan-India Relations & CPEC

Prof. Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt

CPEC is an acronym for China Pakistan Economic
Corridor.
It is a collection of infrastructure projects that are
under construction throughout Pakistan since 2013.
More precisely it is a framework of regional
connectivity.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor is journey towards
economic regionalization in the globalized world.
CPEC will not only benefit China and Pakistan but
will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, India,
Central Asian Republic, and the region.
CPEC has founded peace, development, and win-win
model for all.
Indian Objections:
Indian objections can be categorized into two categories:
 Sovereignty Claims
 Encirclement Fears
Sovereignty Claims:
 The Government of India objects to the CPEC projects as they
are taking place in Gilgit-Baltistan; territory that India claims as
its own.
Encirclement Fears:
 Indian authorities have repeatedly reiterated that China and
Pakistan intended to develop the corridor not just for its economic
benefits, but also is motivated by the "strategic intent of besieging
India.
 Former Indian National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan stated
that "CPEC must be viewed as a major threat. Both countries
[China and Pakistan] have a common intention to undermine
India`s position in the region.“
 On 28 August, the China Institutes of Contemporary International
Relations suggested that China will have "to get involved" if India
Expected benefits of CPEC for India:
It will open Afghan and Central Asian markets for India.
CPEC can be extended to India through subsidiary links
from Punjab and even Kashmir; thus, mitigating the
mutual security threat suspicion between India and
Pakistan and China and India.
CPEC has the capacity to materialize a faster
culmination of Iran-Pak-India gas pipeline to fulfill the
energy needs of India.
Opportunity for India and China to revive the old Silk
route.
India would also be able to benefit from the Foreign
Direct Investment from China like Pakistan.
Development of new infrastructure and refurbishment
of the old infrastructure.
Better and More Employment and Economic
What Pakistan should do:
Should engage in exterior diplomatic maneuvers.
Should promote dialogues to enhance the collective
understanding among regional countries.
Should adopt a policy of inclusion instead of exclusion;
taking other stakeholders along will be beneficial for the
success of the project and for durable peace and progress
of the region.
Conclusion:
CPEC has the potential to uplift the economic condition
and alter the economic spectrum of the whole region for
the better.
It for India to decide whether it wants to be a partner in
development or a stumbling block in regional progress.