Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan
CHINA-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been in the line of fire since its inception. Various “configurational” forces have been targeting the CPEC because of its immense potential for greater socio-economic prosperity, regional connectivity and massive industrialization which ultimately eradicates poverty and generates more and more new jobs. Regional dark ages desires to sabotage the diverse development activities and infrastructural projects of the CPEC. While meeting with newly appointed Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong, the Prime Minister termed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a “transformational” project and reiterated the government’s strong commitment to timely completion of all the CPEC-related projects. PM Imran Khan affirmed the time tested Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
He upheld that Special Economic Zones (SEZs), industry and enhanced productivity in the agriculture sector have an important role in the country’s development under flagship project of the CPEC. On his part, the Chinese Ambassador assured that Beijing will fully support the speedy completion of CPEC projects as well as industrialization in Pakistan. Chinese envoy also met with Chairman China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa and said that CPEC will change the destiny of Pakistan. The CPEC Authority Chairman said that the friendship between the two countries would further strengthen with time. He further said that CPEC Authority was committed to providing a one-stop window service for transit projects.
Despite all regional ill designs and hardships the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) the CPEC is progressing smoothly. In this context, both the countries exchange and cooperate in diverse fields of trade and investment, science and technology, culture and education, defence and security have deepened continuously and benefited the two peoples. Moreover, the year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. In this regard, both countries should work together to build a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the days to come. The phase-II of the CPEC would be bench-mark for further strengthening of bilateral relations, high inflows of FDIs, joint ventures, trade & commerce activities, science and technology cooperation, agricultural development, tourism and the last but not the least, energy cooperation between the two countries.
To show the real face, aims, designs, schemes, plans and secretive methods of the regional worshipers of dark ages India most recently, in a joint media conference Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar briefed that India was sabotaging the CPEC and is supporting terrorism in Pakistan. During the lengthy session of media conference a comprehensive dossier was presented which confirmed India’s involvement in terror attacks in Pakistan. Various multiple video clips and audio clips, along with documents, also presented which clearly disclosed Indian handlers and terrorists conversing with each other and Indian intelligence handlers passing on instructions to terrorists in Pakistan, especially against the CPEC, the future of Pakistan’s economic development and sustainability. Both the high officials termed it “irrefutable” facts which subsequently would share with international community too.
It was revealed that India used its soil and resources against sovereignty of Pakistan to surround it in a web of terrorism because India cannot tolerate Pakistan’s success against terrorism. The Foreign Minister further elaborated that during recent months, India has tried its best to fan terrorism across Pakistan and Indian intelligence agencies have been rigorously supporting terrorist groups defeated and outlawed by Pakistan. He added that the country has information and evidence of India promoting terrorism in Pakistan and “has developed a plan to destabilise Pakistan”. Qureshi feared that the coming months would be crucial for Pakistan because of an expected upsurge in terrorist activities in Pakistan and the focus will be on the major urban centres of the country. There would be rise in urban terrorism in the country mainly in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and many others. He pinpointed two Indian intelligence agencies, RAW and DIA, financing, training and harbouring terrorists aiming to state terrorism and instability in Pakistan. It would be 5th generation hybrid war against Pakistan.
He shared that New Delhi has been pouring billions among the various terrorist groups and franchises and distributed Rs22 billion for the purpose of promoting and carrying out terror activities in Pakistan which clearly showed the clear deepening of the nexus between India and terrorist outfits. Moreover, India is sabotaging CPEC as they know the project’s success can be an economic game changer for Pakistan. The Foreign Minister disclosed establishment of a cell in their intelligence agency with the sole objective of disrupting CPEC projects. The cell works under the direct supervision of the Indian Prime Minister Modi and its mandate is to disrupt CPEC projects. A sum of Rs80 billion has been allocated for this purpose. There are also reports that India has established a 700 strong militia to target CPEC projects. He said that the country is prepared and has established and deployed two security divisions to safeguard the projects and the personnel working on them.
Qureshi further said New Delhi tried to promote subversive activities in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in the run-up to elections in the region through sub-nationalists. The GB is window to the CPEC projects and Indian secretive schemes of destruction would be fatal for the various projects of the CPEC. Major General Babar Iftikhar, giving details of Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan, said India embraced all terrorist organisations soon after they were uprooted from Pakistan. He covered the details of Indian machinations for Pakistan’s destabilization and economic coercion by presenting evidence in the domains of funding terrorism, weapons and equipment support to terrorists, terrorist training and terrorist activities. The military spokesperson said the recent upsurge in violence in Pakistan is a direct consequence of New Delhi’s “intensified engagements with all brands of terrorists, sub-nationalists and dissident’s operating against Pakistan”. Being a prominent regional expert of BRI & CPEC, I predict that despite Indian paramount terrorist schemes against Pakistan and CPEC would achieve no substantial success in the days to come because of strong political will and professional preparedness of defence forces of the country to dissuade all perpetrated ill designs against the socio-economic prosperity of the country.
