WHAT are the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)? It is a realization of Iqbal’s dream. It seems that His Excellency Liu Jianchao visited Pakistan to unveil this very secret. His address at the CPEC Advisory Mechanism meeting will be remembered for two reasons. He chose to speak in English and explained what kind of world order Allama Muhammad Iqbal envisioned and the role of Pakistan and China in that order. He recited with pleasant earnestness this verse of Iqbal: “Awakened, the drowsy ones of China have begun to rise, The springs of the Himalayas have begun to gush forth.”
Some took note of this part of the speech, while some did not. This is because everyone except Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed read written speeches. However, Syed’s impromptu speech revolved around this very verse. He elaborated that when Iqbal talks about the awakening of the drowsy Chinese and the gushing springs of the Himalayas, he means to say that the future of the world lies in not just Asia but in China, the neighbour and strategic partner of Pakistan. This was the central point of his speech, which the distinguished guest listened to attentively and appreciated.
The important question is why the guest from China found it necessary to tell us at the beginning of the second and more advanced phase of CPEC that the CPEC project we are striving to realize was actually presented by our own ideological forefather and the great poet of the East. There is another question linked to this one. Why did our Chinese friends find it necessary to deliver this speech in English when they conduct every official conversation and exchange in their national language, Chinese? Finding the answers to these two questions will make the significance of Mr. Liu Jianchao’s visit to Pakistan clear.
Just a few days ago, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry mentioned the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to China, saying that his visit is a milestone and a guarantor of the development and prosperity of both countries. This reaction from the Chinese spokesperson was in the backdrop of the reaction on social media against Pakistan-China relations and the Prime Minister’s visit to China. The propaganda was so intense that not only did our Chinese friends had to comment on it, but the Federal Minister for Planning, AhsanIqbal, also had to address it. He said that a political party is continuously propagating against Pakistan-China relations. He said a party has started trolling Pakistan-China relations, trying to give the impression that the relations between two countries have deteriorated or been downgraded. It is evident that the referring party is PTI, as all evidence of negative propaganda points towards it.
The history of negative propaganda about Pakistan-China relations goes back to 2014, when this party postponed the visit of the Chinese President to Pakistan by holding a sit-in at D-Chowk. Along with this, propaganda started at various levels that the CPEC project is not in Pakistan’s interest, as it is bringing China into Pakistan like the East India Company. When this party came into power, they practically halted the CPEC project, and their ministers raised questions about the transparency of these projects, displeasing the friendly country. This was the backdrop, leading to a general belief that the situation in Pakistan had disappointed China, and it was now focusing on alternative projects.
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China made it clear that there was no truth in such propaganda, but the campaign continued with the same intensity, prompting clarifications from both sides at the highest level. The Chinese Minister’s speech in English, recalling Iqbal’s vision, highlighted this aspect of Chinese diplomacy to ensure that the intended meaning of his speech is understood and no party can misinterpret it. Even more significant was the gathering of political leaders that the Chinese Minister addressed. It was evident that this gathering was an extraordinary effort to create a consensus in the testimony of China regarding Pakistan-China relations. Was this effort successful? This is the most important question.
The effort was successful to the extent that PTI’s representative Barrister Ali Zafar, while addressing the advisory meeting, called for expediting the CPEC project. However, he also made some inappropriate remarks. Barrister Ali Zafar felt it necessary to mention in his speech that he was attending the advisory meeting because he received the invitation from the distinguished guest, i.e., China. The question can be asked, why is this inappropriate? It is so because, in other words, he said that if the government had invited him, he would not have attended the meeting. By saying this, he blurred the beautiful landscape of national consensus.
In his speech, he linked the success of the project to political stability and cleverly mentioned court decisions, which was inappropriate because by doing so, he associated Pakistan-China bilateral relations with Pakistan’s internal politics and differences. There is also a tradition of group photos at such high-level conferences and gatherings, but PTI’s representative Barrister Ali Zafar did not participate in this either. His conduct was against the respect due to a distinguished guest from a great friendly country. The matter didn’t end here; the disruptive attitude of PTI continued the next day as well. All this was happening while the Chinese guest was still in Pakistan. Why is it that political opponents set aside their differences and show unity and solidarity at such times, PTI’s conduct spoiled this valuable opportunity and created the same unpleasantness as always. These events do not point to good signs; surely some plan like that of 2014 is underway, and the nation should remain alert.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
