Pakistan and China to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, India to oppose

New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in China on an official visit and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This was the two-day official trip, the first bilateral visit after assuming office.

Discussing development in  Afghanistan, both leaders agreed that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) extension to Afghanistan, would strengthen regional connectivity initiatives.

The press release issued by Shehbaz Sharif's office said, "The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through CPEC's extension to Afghanistan."

The press release added, "The two sides underscored the need for the international community to provide continued assistance and support to Afghanistan, including through unfreezing Afghanistan's overseas financial assets."

Afghanistan officials are yet to react on the issue

CPEC completes a decade of work in Pakistan. Several Chinese firms and citizens are working in Pakistan to meet the $ 60 Billion project. Security concerns have sometimes been where some radical elements have attacked Chinese citizens.

China demanded security for all its citizens in Pakistan. The press release said, "Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan."

The press release added, "Both sides expressed their firm determination to counter all threats and designs against CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship."

India opposes CPEC and BRI

As the Chinese and Pakistan premiers were engaging in extending the CPEC into Afghanistan, Indian Foreign Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, in his meeting at SCO, opposed the BRI projects.

Jaishanakar spoke in a virtual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government hosted by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on November 1 and said, "Connectivity projects should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States and respect international law."

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, is a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a massive multinational, multi-modal connectivity infrastructure project promoted by China. India does not support the BRI and has declined to join the project. New Delhi has opposed the Belt and Road Initiative mainly because the project passes through parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

A joint communique issued at the end of the SCO meeting where the Indian name is not there said Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their support for China's BRI and to work jointly to implement the project.

India has refused to acknowledge the BRI in joint statements issued by the SCO since it joined the regional organisation as a full member in 2018.

Under CPEC, mainland China is linked to the Arabian Sea via Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region to Gwadar port in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan.

This arm of the BRI enters Indian territory occupied by Pakistan in Gilgit Baltistan and covers the complete length of Pakistan before reaching the Arabian Sea; according to Pakistan media, 13 projects of CPEC worth $11 billion are completed, and 13 projects worth $18 billion are under implementation. $21 billion projects are still in the pipeline.