With China and Pakistan exploring and discussing the possibility of extending the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, India is preparing to protest over this move tooth and nail. Undeniably, Beijing’s plan to extend its controversial CPEC to Afghanistan could be a security concern for Delhi, and with this in view, any move like this will be countered and protested, sources told The Daily Guardian Review, adding that India is keeping a close watch over the development related to this. “India is not only watching it closely but also preparing its response in case anything substantial comes up from Beijing and Islamabad,” sources pointed out.
“If needed, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will give a message on it to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in future talks and meetings,” says a diplomat. India through its diplomatic channels is collecting more inputs on this joint plan by China and Pakistan, which is solely driven by Beijing’s agenda to expand its influence in India’s neighbourhood. In a bid to send out a message to the global community, China and Pakistan have cited economic development as a trigger for their plan to extend CPEC to war-ravaged Afghanistan where investments are badly needed in terms of infrastructure. With the narrative of the economic development of Afghanistan being set by Pakistan and China to garner global support, India will convince the world community that the project under CPEC, which is being sought to be extended, is illegal in itself as it disregards India’s sovereignty concerns.
India has repeatedly registered its protests over CPEC, the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying it is in violation of its sovereignty as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) – Indian Territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. At a Press briefing recently, a Chinese spokesperson said that CPEC is an economic initiative with objectives of enhancing regional connectivity and achieving common development. “This kind of explanation is unacceptable,” say Indian officials.
According to a report, Islamabad and Beijing are considering the possibility of extending CPEC to Afghanistan. In fact, the two countries have intensified efforts in that direction, sources say. Following the meeting between Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and China’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, on Monday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that both sides exchanged views on Afghanistan, humanitarian assistance to the war-torn nation and other “matters of mutual interest”.
CPEC would connect Pakistan’s southern Gwadar port in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China’s western Xinjiang region. The project also includes a plan to create road, rail and oil pipeline links to ramp up China’s connectivity with the Middle East. “However, what is to be seen is how much the project would expand into Afghanistan. And once some more details come out, India will make a formal statement on that and will lodge a protest accordingly,” sources said.