India’s concerns about a new luxury bus service between Pakistan and China traversing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have surfaced recently. The service, part of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), links Lahore in Pakistan with Kashgar city in China’s Xinjiang province. This development has garnered significant international attention given the geopolitical tensions in this region.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR)
China, under its ambitious OBOR initiative, aims to bolster connectivity and foster cooperation between Asia, Africa and Europe. Included under this mega project are two dimensions: the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB), a land route, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), an ocean route.
The CPEC, launched in 2015, forms one of the key components of the SREB. It aspires to establish direct road and rail links, connecting Gwadar in Balochistan, Pakistan to Xinjiang province in China. The entire project, running through PoK, is one of the largest bilateral initiatives between China and Pakistan with a massive budget of around $46 billion. CPEC is viewed as a potential tool in reviving the struggling Pakistani economy.
India’s Stance on CPEC
India asserts that the CPEC, passing through Indian territory, blatantly undermines its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The lack of transparency surrounding the methods of funding the project has also raised eyebrows in India, leading to apprehensions about China’s debt-equity swap policy.
Environment at Risk?
Another concern of India is the project’s potential to disrupt and destroy the fragile Himalayan ecology, which would have adverse effects on not just the immediate region but potentially the entire subcontinent.
| CPEC Figures | Description |
|---|---|
| 60 billion USD | Total cost of the CPEC project |
| 46 billion USD | Bilateral funding between Pakistan and China |
| 2015 | Year of CPEC Launch |
| Gwadar, Balochistan to Xinjiang Province | CPEC Route |
The Broader Implications of CPEC
The geopolitical implications surrounding the CPEC are not restricted to the three nations directly involved. The project might influence the balance of power across Asia and could lead to redrawing of economic and political alliances in this region. Despite India’s objections, the launch of the bus service indicates that China and Pakistan are moving ahead with their plans, marking a potentially significant shift in regional dynamics.
