Zahid Rifat
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) comprehensive project is surely and certainly a great game changer which is on one hand is developing infrastructure and energy sectors and on the other hand gradually increasing connectivity in the region. Though people of China and Pakistan are the main beneficiaries directly but the countries of the region will also be benefitting indirectly as the connectivity gradually increases and trade activities gain momentum with speedy, transparent and timely implementation and completion of number of projects under CPEC umbrella. Ever-since CPEC was launched little more than two years back with huge Chinese investment of 46 billion dollars since enhanced to 57 billion dollars, it is being implemented, discussed and talked about quite heatedly and interestingly not only in the region but also the world over. While some countries of the region have already expressed their desire at various levels to be part of CPEC to benefit from its accruing fruits directly or indirectly ,there are couple of countries somehow which are not only opposed to it but are even going to the extent of harming it for achieving their ulterior motives out of their persistent hostility against Pakistan. Even in some quarters, it was being mentioned that some countries beyond the region are also against CPEC and do not want China and Pakistan to accomplish this great bond of friendship through close cooperation , coordination and better mutual understanding in its implementation.It was in this background that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the other day pointedly stated that neither the United States nor the Western countries are opposed CPEC and conspiring against it. According to the reports in the media, the Prime Minister said this in quite categorical and assuring manner while talking to the media pn his way back home after successful three days long official visit to Turkey. He said further that instead of hatching conspiracies some western countries had even shown interest in taking part in the CPEC project some regional countries are somehow unhappy and against the project.Though the prime minister did not name any country as such out of gesture of goodwill and in furtherance of Pakistan’s desire to live in peace with all countries and have cordial friendly relations with its neighbouring countriesin particular . But as a matter of fact it is India and no other country which is against the CPEC and opposing it tooth and nail right from the first day. Indian Prime Minister Nirendra Modi had even gone to the extent of protesting to the Chinese leadership against launching of CPEC in Pakistan. His enmity towards Pakistan and opposition to CPEC still persists though top leadership of China and Pakistan have stated it quite categorically that the CPEC is against none though it is going to benefit also the countries of the region through increased connectivity besides the people of Pakistan who are direct beneficiaries of the fruits of development, progress and prosperity so accruing from ongoing infrastructure and energy sectors development projects under CPEC umbrella. It is an open secret that Indian secret agencies are busy in hatching conspiracies to fail CPEC which, as the Chinese and Pakistani leadership ,has time and again stated that the CPEC is in the interest of all, both directly and indirectly, and not against any country. Indian Prime Minister Nirendra Modi, who has many faces of friendship, goodwill, enmity and hostility towards Pakistan and its people and puts up one he likes apparently to hoodwink the international community.Why Nirendra Modi and India are opposed to CPEC then ? The projects under implementation across Pakistan are going to usher in an era of economic development , progress and prosperity for the people of all regions of the country and are creating more and more employment opportunities for them. `According to estimates put forth by some experts, the CPEC is expected to create over as many as 700,000 direct jobs between 2015 and 2030 and add 2 to 2.5 per cent points to the annual economic growth of the country. Quite obviously, creation of such large number of direct employment opportunities under the CPEC, which is being implemented in phases till 2030, will go a long way in reduction of poverty in the country considerably. These are , as per the experts estimates, only direct jobs and indirect jobs are still more in numbers.The Indian Prime Minister is trying his level best to isolate Pakistan in the comity of nations, deprive it of its rivers water under the Indus Water Treaty and take every possible step to cripple it economically besides continuing atrocities against Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir and killing of innocent citizens of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir through persistent firing across Line of Control in gross violations. So, he is opposed to the CPEC which is not only further cementing and strengthening time-tested, all weather friendly relations between China and Pakistan but also going a long way to eliminate lingering electricity load shedding, creating large number of direct and indirect employment opportunities and reducing poverty and unemployment with the completion of projects under execution all over Pakistan under the CPEC umbrella. The Indian Prime Minister is on record to have admitted sometime back India’s direct army intervention in the garb of so-called Mukti Bahini to dismember Pakistan and create BangladeshThe Indian Prime Minister is afraid of the success of the CPEC comprehensive project which is not only going to increase connectivity between the countries of the region but also will bring more and more countries in close friendly relations with Pakistan and boost its economic growth and progress and thus spoiling and damaging India’s dream of Greater India (Akhand Bharat) and evil designs of hegemony over smaller countries of the region. The quite clear statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has greatly dispelled wrong impressions that US and Western countries are against the CPEC . The Indian leadership should also view the CPEC realistically and realize that it is in the interest of all and against no country. In fact, Pakistan has already offered India to become part of the CPEC and let its people also share benefits which have already started accruing to the people of Pakistan. Just being afraid and trying to fail CPEC is not going to help the India Prime Minister in any manner. Foolproof arrangements have already been made by Pakistan in close coordination and cooperation of China and are in place both on land in the sea for ensuring security of the CPEC all along its route and foiling all evil designs and conspiracies against its success in due course of time.
The wrier is Lahore-based freelance journalist and columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail.com
