CPEC And the Growing Indian Frustration: An Analysis

By now it is widely known that the CPEC is a collection of projects. It primarily aims at achieving strong trade links between China and Pakistan. This 46 billion dollars project will allow Pak-China relations to enter a new phase with added economic and strategic dimensions to it. All this development is closely monitored in Delhi with great unease. They have made no effort to conceal their unease and have openly voiced their displeasure by condemning the CPEC project.

However, both China and Pakistan are fully dedicated to turn CPEC into reality against all odds. This is naturally an alarming situation for India which is finding it hard to curb its frustration anymore. As is evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at a conference, in which he resolutely disapproved the initiative of China-Pakistan economic corridor. In very vivid terms he warned that China should stop developing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) or be prepared to face dire consequences in Baluchistan.

The same rhetoric could be heard coming from Sushma Swaraj where she vehemently expressed that India would not allow the route of economic corridor to be passed through Gilgit-Baltistan, implying that the region is part of India and Pakistan first needs to seek India’s permission to carry out any activity there.

Both these statements coming from high profile and in service political leadership, raises concern for both Pakistan and China. The hurdles and challenges are bound to be there. But it will not be an exaggeration to say that the biggest challenge does come from India. The statements by Indian leadership do not leave any ambiguity that India is against the CPEC. Not only this but it is employing different ways and means to pressurize Pakistan to behave on Delhi’s terms.

India is bent upon disallowing the passage of CPEC through Azad Kashmir. India considers Azad Kashmir as “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir”, and it assumes that it has the natural right of jurisdiction over whole of Kashmir. On the other hand, constructing the corridor through Azad Kashmir means China considers it a part of Pakistan which comes in direct clash with India’s stance on Kashmir.

At the same time India feels growingly alarmed at the possibility of China’s presence so close to India. Once Gwadar port is functional, China not only gets three times reduction in the total distance that would need to be covered by the Chinese trading ships but China will also get an easy access into Indian Ocean, thereby undermining India’s supremacy and influence in the region. Chinese expected naval edge over India is naturally causing unrest among the Indian military and civil circles.

Not just that but one of the former ambassadors of India openly expressed that the CPEC is having a sole nefarious agenda of containment of India. Hence is seen as a valid threat to Indian security and sovereignty where both and China are seen to be working towards weakening India’s position in the region.

Prime Minister Modi also expressed in his Independence Day speech that people in Baluchistan have thanked him, implying that he is more closely integrated with people in Baluchistan. At the same time his threat about “facing consequences” in Baluchistan, has made it clear that India is involved in instigating the anti-state sentiments in the province. Furthermore, recently Brahmdagh Bugti have been reported to seek asylum in India, to which he has received positive response from the Indian government.

Baluchistan is the main site which holds the major concentration of the CPEC project. Hence Baluchistan has been the prime target for Indian aggressive interventionist policy. The Indian Spy Kalbuhsan Yadav was captured from Baluchistan, further reinforcing the validity of this argument.

However it is a fact that Indian frustration against CPEC, China and Pakistan is only going to grow further, along with the pressure from India against Pakistan. This will for sure add to the tension in the region for which Pakistan needs to be well prepared all the time and be in a position to counter it too.

Eventually India will have to realize that the CPEC is not just bringing dividends for Pakistan but is integral for the socio-economic uplift of the whole region and beyond. Hence staying out of the CPEC is not going to serve India any good and is not even advisable. The stronger economic ties will be guaranteeing regional security and stability and ultimately benefit all the states in the region. This is because of the pattern of interdependence that is created when countries get engaged in the economic activity with each other such as trade. This also reduces the chances of clash or war.

Hence instead of being frustrated by this mega project, India needs to see it from a much bigger perspective where this may actually compliment India’s aspirations of becoming an economic giant and ultimately emerge as a major power.