Islamabad
Speakers from various spheres of life and different countries including United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan addressing the webinar “CPEC and Afghanistan: Future of Mutual Prosperity and Regional Connectivity” organized by IPRI here on Thursday shared their perspectives on what CPEC as a project holds for Afghanistan’s future.
The speakers included Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Ms. Tehmina Janjua, Director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Peshawar, Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwardi, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Illinois and Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan Studies at the Middle East Institute in the United States, Dr. Marvin G. Weinbaum, Member of the Afghan parliament, Mr. Mir Wais Yasini and Deputy Director and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center in the US, Mr. Michael Kugelman.
In his opening remarks, Acting President of IPRI Brig (Retd) Raashid Wali Janjua stressed on how CPEC is a strategic outlet with immense geopolitical implications for Afghanistan. He welcomed the diverse range of experts who were tasked with enlightening the audience on this pertinent theme.
Ms. Tehmina Janjua in her remarks expressed optimism that through CPEC, existing boundaries between regional players which included Afghanistan and Pakistan could become zones of contact which are grounded in history and can be capitalized upon today.
Her optimism was complimented by Dr. Hussain Soherwordi’s assessment that the project holds great potential based on the fact that interdependence between states ushers in peace, cooperation and avenues for compromise which can benefit Afghanistan.
Dr. Marvin Weinbaum considered the Belt and Road Initiative to offer a unique opportunity for the Afghan economy with such investments potentially addressing the war torn country’s security quagmires.
Member of the Afghan parliament, Mr. Mir Wais Yasini then equated regional connectivity and investments in the Afghan economy to be solely dependent on the results of the Intra-Afghan dialogue process which is taking place in Doha.
