China, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been in communication through diplomatic channels on the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China's Foreign Ministry has said, reiterating that the CPEC is an economic initiative that does not target any third party and won't affect its position on the Kashmir issue.

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China, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been in communication through diplomatic channels on the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China's Foreign Ministry has said, reiterating that the CPEC is an economic initiative that does not target any third party and won't affect its position on the Kashmir issue.

"We have also noticed that Afghanistan has imported and exported related goods through the Gwadar Port and Karachi Port. China, Pakistan and Afghanistan are discussing issues related to extending roads and expressways in Pakistan to Afghanistan," Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, told a regular press conference in Beijing last week.

"China has stated its position on Kashmir many times. The CPEC is an economic initiative that is not aimed at third parties, and has nothing to do with territorial sovereignty disputes. It won't affect our principled position on the Kashmir issue," the spokesman was quoted as saying by the Global Times, official organ of the Chinese Communist Party.

The CPEC, as one of the pioneering projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, has made important and major progress in strengthening infrastructure, energy, ports and industrial parks, Zhao said, adding that China is extending the CPEC to regional countries, including Afghanistan.

"This will not only boost faster economic development in Pakistan, but also regional connectivity," said the spokesperson.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan welcomed Zhao Lijian's statement, saying Beijing is having discussions with third parties, including Afghanistan, on the extension of the flagship project.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

A lot has been said about the One-Belt One-Road initiative (OBOR), or as the Chinese call it the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It attracts unwanted attention, as no superpower in human history has been able to undertake a project so enormous, that it covers most continents and two-thirds of the world, is inclusive of all major areas of modern economy, and is undertaken by a non-white, non-European power, China.

With BRI, an ambitious signature foreign-policy initiative by the Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in 2013, China expects regional and global connectivity with and among some 126 countries and 29 international organizations (already on board), through a network of roads, highways, railways, pipelines, power plants, grids, fiber-optic and social welfare and poverty-alleviation projects, according to Inam Ul Haque of The Express Tribune.

The overall investment is a staggering over $1.3 trillion to establish six international corridors. The Initiative would ultimately cover over 65 countries, 60% of the world population and 40% of the global GDP. The trade volume among China and the participating countries is already over $6 trillion, with the potential of adding $117 billion.

CPEC covers the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

CPEC officially covers the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in western China, and the whole territory of Pakistan in a format comprising a 'core zone' and 'radiation zone'.

The corridor passes through key node cities including Kashghar (Kashi in Chinese), Atushi, Tumshuq, Shule, Shufu, Akto, Tashkurgan Tajik in China; and Gilgit, Peshawar, DI Khan, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Quetta, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan.

Development of western China is pursuant to China's longstanding policy, "Go West", aimed at removing developmental disparities between coastal China in the east, and the under-developed mountainous China in the west.

In its initial formulation, CPEC's declared timeline runs until 2030 with phasing of projects in short, medium and long-term, with scope for later adjustments. In the short-term (2014-2020), CPEC was aimed at resource mobilisation, removing major bottlenecks to Pakistan's economic (not identified in the MoU), social development and boosting economic growth in both countries.

In the mid-term (up to 2025), CPEC envisages completion of major construction and associated industrial systems, optimal utilisation of expected economic functions (improving peoples' livelihood along CPEC) and removing economic/developmental disparities regionally, as per Vision 2025. In the long-term (up to 2030), CPEC's goal is for South Asia growing into an international economic zone with global influence, having CPEC effectively integrated for economic growth in South/Central Asia.

Subsequent implementation and recalibration have sequenced projects into 'Early Harvest' projects (2015-2019) in the energy sector, adding up approximately 7,000 MW to the national grid by 2019, easing energy shortages and load shedding. By 2022, energy projects would add another 13,180 MW, lifting production and exports.

Similarly, short-term (up to 2022) projects include mainly infrastructure (roads), Gwadar development, fiber-optic network, hydel, coal-mining and power projects. Whereas, medium-term (up to 2025) include railways and the creation of industrial zones. The long-term projects (up to 2030) include completion of industrial zones, agriculture and tourism.

China helps Afghan peace with trilateral mechanism

Interestingly, Chinese statement to extend CPEC to Afghanistan comes as Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the fourth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Dialogue via video link on Thursday to discuss US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The three foreign ministers reached a consensus on promoting the peace process in Afghanistan and anti-terrorism and security cooperation, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wang Yi said that the current international and regional situations are undergoing complex and profound changes, and the security and stability of Afghanistan and the region are facing new challenges, with foreign troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan accelerated, the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan impacted, and armed conflicts and terrorist activities becoming more frequent.

Under such circumstances, it is more necessary for the three countries to strengthen communication and cooperation to make the situation in Afghanistan more conducive to the common interests of Afghanistan and other countries in the region, Wang said.

During the meeting, Wang and Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reached a consensus on the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, and trilateral cooperation. Since the mechanism was set up under China's initiative in 2017, three sessions had been held, making this an important platform for the three countries to enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation, according to Global Times.

Authors Bio:

Author and journalist.
Author of
Islamic Pakistan: Illusions & Reality;
Islam in the Post-Cold War Era;
Islam & Modernism;
Islam & Muslims in the Post-9/11 America.
American Muslims in Politics.
Islam in the 21st Century: Challanges, conspiracies & Chaos
Muslim Word in the New Global Order
Currently working as free lance journalist.
Executive Editor of American Muslim Perspective: www.amperspective.com