China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Current Context: China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan, aiming to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration.

About CPEC

• Launch: Initiated in 2015 as a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• Route: Approximately 3,000 km corridor linking China’s Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.
• Strategic Importance: Serves as a convergence point for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

India’s Concerns

• Territorial Integrity: CPEC passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India claims as its territory, raising sovereignty issues.
• Geopolitical Implications: The extension into Afghanistan could strengthen China’s influence in the region, potentially affecting India’s strategic interests and regional connectivity projects like the Chabahar Port.