Daily Times

It is an undeniable fact that Asia is the biggest continent on planet earth. Many international scholars and political analysts are of the view that Asia is under-going the period of re-evolution. It is, therefore, speculated that this metamorphosis would inflict severe implications on the already ailing and flagging continent. But, another view which is more strongly reasoned is that Asia will re-emerge as a powerful continent in the ongoing century. The most significant factor of this change depends on the rise of China.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is the flagship, pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is being considered as the most pivotal project for Asia in general and for Pakistan in particular. CPEC has opened avenues of hope for Pakistan,which will ensure socio-economic prosperity for the vulnerable country. Therefore, opponents and adversaries are hatching conspiracies and employing hybrid warfare tactics to barricade the progress of the aforementioned project.

Unfortunately, CPEC is facing numerous perils like terrorism, security issues and disruptive social behaviors.It is also extending politico-economic implications for the both region and the world. Yao Jing, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan has clearly stated that, “I want to make it very clear, BRI initiative and with CPEC under it; it’s purely a commercial development project. We don’t have any kind of military or strategic design for that. We don’t want to make the CPEC such kind of a platform.” Thus, CPEC cannot be termed as a military project but it has great economic capability and strength which seemingly posing a threat for strategic competitors.

The adversaries of Pakistan and China are against this multi-billion dollar deal. The antagonist forces have launched hybrid warfare to halt the progress of this project. John Mecklin has rightly committed that hybrid warfare is a new technique implied on the international level that “can combine Internet-enabled propaganda, a global ‘dark web’ of encrypted communications, cyber attacks, positive and negative economic pressure, espionage, irregular military action, and other efforts that aim to advance political interests without progressing to full-scale war.”

India, on the other hand, is flexing its muscles and employing nefarious strategies like irregular tactics, using conventional small weapons, criminal behavior and terrorism to thwart the CPEC project. The US has also played its vital role in scandalising the CPEC project. The former has used economic pressure tactics in thwarting and barricading the flight ship project. Furthermore has appointed paid cliques for spreading false information, regarding the project.Such as that, China is right now turning Pakistan into its colony and yielding 90 percent benefits from it. Or that China will abandon Pakistan once CPEC materialises.

Since the beginning of this project, India has opposed it at all levels and deemed it as an illegal project because it passes through the disputed land between the Pakistan and India. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, had directly approached China to desist from materializing this illegal project. In addition, New Delhi is also involved in propagating the negative image of CPEC to disrupt its progress and spread disbelief amongst masses regarding the aforementioned project.

Not only this, Indian intelligence agency RAW has been involved in facilitating terrorist attacks on CPEC sites to impede the progress and terrorising the investing team. The former is also extending terrorist outfits to obstruct the ongoing infrastructure development in Baluchistan. The Kulbashan Jhadave case comes to mind. The latter was who was serving as a naval commander,was deployed to Baluchistan for spreading terrorism and impeding the CPEC project, however he was caught by Pakistani agencies.

Similarly, there is also staunch resentment from the strategic corridors of the US against China, on the geopolitical landscape of the world. Therefore, any project which can enhance the strength of the Chinese in regional or international affairs is highly distressing for the Americans. It is a fact that CPEC would reduce China’s dependence on the notorious Strait of Malacca where American hegemony is obvious. China is enduring to increase her sphere of influence in the Asia-pacific and started pursuing its strategic objectives there. China is also flexing its muscles to defeat any aggression and power which can subdue its objectives in South Asia.

There is also staunch resentment from the strategic corridors of the US against China, on the geopolitical landscape of the world. Therefore, any project which can enhance the strength of the Chinese in regional or international affairs is highly distressing for the Americans

It is quite interesting that Asia-Pacific is the most valuable strategic location for Washington, in order to control this region skillfully. But, the development of CPEC and increasing Chinese influence in the region is highly distressing for the Americans. Mike Pompeo, the American secretary of state, has expressed strong discontent on the issue of CPEC in the following words, “make no mistake: we would be watching what the IMF does. There is no rationale for IMF tax dollars- and associated with, that American dollars that are part of the IMF funding- for those to go to bail out Chinese bondholders or China itself”. His warning unveiled the state of uneasiness the US in in, seeing the footprints of China in South Asia through CPEC.

Hence, many seen and unseen forces are working to disrupt the CPEC project and impede the socio-economic progress coming out of it for Pakistan. Foreign and domestic media has launched false movements against the CPEC and spreading untrue information regarding the project. No doubt, it has not obstructed the developmental works but surely annoyed the people of the Pakistan and frustrated the Chinese working under this project. The significant argument in this regard is that the China-Pakistan friendship is time-tested and cannot be dented through false accusations. Nevertheless, the hybrid warfare could extend and harbor certain implications which could only be managed by the two friendly states working together.

The writer is a Quetta based columnist and an Independent researcher. He can be reached at Asadhussainma@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, September 29^th 2018.