Daily Times

The South Asian region is rapidly turning in a grand arena between contesting global players. China is in the crosshairs of the US and its allies for many interconnected reasons. The growing influence of Beijing through mutually agreed economic projects, involving infrastructural development, is deeply disturbing Washington on many accounts. Development of the CPEC through Pakistan, being a flagship project of the BRI, has been a greater point of concern for both strategic allies, the US and India. Driven by traditional arrogance, the US felt no hesitation in openly criticising the project and urging Pakistan to step aside from a bi-laterally agreed commitment.

Bitter dictating statements of Ellis Wales and Mike Pompeo about the CPEC still echo in the air. Back in 2014, immediately after the formal announcement of the CPEC, the (then) Indian foreign minister, late Sushma Swaraj, objected the project by pressing false claim over GB and AJ&K territory. Thereafter, PM Modi rushed to Beijing and tried to convince the Chinese leadership of the Indian version of the disputed status of GB and AJ&K. Beijing applied appreciable traditional wisdom to downplay the Indian rhetoric and showed IOJ&K as a disputed territory in a map displayed on the Chinese state TV during the same visit.

This humiliating and clear Chinese response was not enough to treat the conceptual bug in the Indian decision-making process. Indian urge to crush Pakistan is dangerously growing with each passing day. As a matter of standing procedure, any project contributing to economic stability and prosperity of Pakistan is vulnerable to a coercive response from New Delhi. Indian traditional rivalry with Pakistan and bitter experience with China has made New Delhi eligible for the job of US’s policeman in South Asia. Deep Indo-US partnership was firmly stamped by President Donald Trump during the February tour of New Delhi.

Three-billion-dollars deal means direct induction of extremely lethal weapons in Indian inventory, which will definitely disturb the power equation in the South Asian region. Deadly impacts of Indo-US thickening relationships are too obvious to ignore for Beijing and Islamabad. A gradual buildup of disturbing events at the Asian canvas during the past few weeks have made it clear that a greater conflict is in the offing.

Indian traditional rivalry with Pakistan and bitter experience with China has made New Delhi eligible for the job of US’s policeman in South Asia

Undeniable facts indicate that a dangerous alliance is shaping up against China under US patronage across the globe with its nucleus in South Asia. Pakistan needs to be fully geared up in advance for undesired developments. Indian fall in US lap poses a direct threat to all Chinese backed projects in the South Asian region. It is obvious that the US would prefer moving its newly appointed policeman against China and its allies. The plan is rapidly unfolding with Indian military misadventure against China in the Himalayan Mountains and sabotage campaign aimed at CPEC.

New Delhi is vigorously pumping resources to separatist terrorists in Baluchistan to put a halt on CPEC related projects. Mysterious activation of so-called Baloch nationalists is one part of Indian grand scheme to disturb the finish point of CPEC. The second part of this scheme is being manifested in GB and Azad Kashmir by sowing the seeds of territorial and linguistic hatred through social media propaganda. The third part of this scheme is spread over larger canvas encompassing revocation of the special status of IOJ&K, aggressive posturing on Azad Kashmir including GB and military confrontation with China in Ladakh sector. During the cold war era, not once, the US and Russia directly attacked each other militarily. Instead, the blood of allies was spilt much away from the main heartland of both adversaries.

While a greater anti-China alliance is rapidly shaping up under US banner, it is obvious that allies are likely to be the first causalities on either side. Pakistan needs some extra guards against ongoing ultra-violent Indian sponsored CPEC centric campaigning.

The terrorist attack on the Karachi Stock Exchange was a clear message that New Delhi is striving hard for economic incapacitation of Pakistan. By tagging the responsibility of attack with BLA, an attempt was made by Indian agencies to project Baluchistan as a trouble zone facing IOJ&K like freedom movement. Indian designs are clearly in line with larger US objectives in the region. It is evident that foreign-based fugitives will be activated to strike at the heart of Pakistan.

Besides deadly terrorist attacks on LEAs, we have seen glimpses of separatist activism in the objectionable statements of self-exiled MQM-London chief Altaf Hussain. Pakistan needs to find and apply the right combination for quick acceleration on CPEC. Consensus on sensitive national issues should be sought by rising beyond the petty party differences. National economic revival for greater stability is largely dependent on expeditious completion of CPEC and absolute eradication of Indian sponsored terrorism. Decision-makers bear a greater responsibility to decipher the real intents of hostile adversaries to formulate cohesive counter-strategy. While deceiving the world on the diplomatic front through talks with China on troops’ disengagement, India is accelerating military buildup in the Ladakh sector. Deployment of tanks, induction of additional troops of three Divisions, mission assignment to naval MIG-29K aircrafts and desperate contacts with France for early delivery of Rafale Jets equipped with deadly HAMMER missiles cannot be taken lightly.

Sooner or later, India will switch these military resources against Pakistan at LoC. Conduct of Joint naval exercises by India, Japan, Australia and the US in the Indian Ocean close to the entry point of Chinese vessels in Strait of Malacca is an alarming development for Beijing. On the behest of the US, Modi-led India is transmitting dangerous warning signals to China and all its allies. Pakistan should not lose sight of the fact that CPEC, being a top priority target, is in the crosshairs of India and its allies.

The writer is a freelance