The government has backtracked once more. Saudi Arabia is not joining CPEC as the third partner. Moreover, the Centre is now admitting that it failed to take China into confidence regarding the unilateral offer; despite the COAS being in Beijing at the time.
The ruling PTI is trying to put a brave face on things. Riyadh will be investing in Pakistan. Just not as part of either the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) or the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC). That is, any financial injections will feature as part of a bilateral framework. This would be all well and good had the U-turn not come as a Saudi delegation is still in the country. For it suggests miscommunication on a spectacular scale. This is to say nothing of what is fast becoming seen as the new set-up’s tradition of announcing policy steps only to retract these a short time later. Thereby giving the impression of a government not sure of its own footing. The fallout being an increasing trust deficit between state and citizenry.
Yet some regional players will welcome this development. In fact, this is one rare instance that will see the US and Iran firmly on the same page. Washington has opposed CPEC ostensibly on the part of India given the latter’s claims of how the Corridor runs through disputed territory. Though, in truth, the Americans are merely wary of China’s regional ambitions in only so much as these threaten established US spheres of influence. And given that Saudi Arabia is a steadfast American ally in the Middle East, some pundits here are beginning to whisper in not un-hushed tones that Washington may have had a quiet word in Riyadh’s ear. This, however, is unlikely. Especially considering how the Kingdom has signed defence and energy deals with Russia; another challenger to Washington’s hegemony.
Tehran is the biggest winner of the Saudi-non-CPEC game-changer. After all, the two countries are engaged in proxy wars that extend to Qatar, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. Thus the notion of Riyadh becoming more closely tied to Pakistan was reportedly of great concern to an Iranian regime already suspicious of the Islamic Military Alliance (IMA). Not to mention this country’ training of Saudi troops. And while Islamabad has repeatedly reassured both sides that it will not choose between allies, it should welcome having the pressure eased somewhat on this front.
That being said, the more solid approach would have been for the Khan government not to jump the gun in the first place. For while it is appreciated that the federal set-up is endeavouring to be transparent — it must be stressed that this cannot come at the cost of bypassing Parliament. Meaning that the elected representatives of the Pakistani people must be recognised as legitimate stakeholders; regardless of political rivalry.
It is thus hoped that this will be the last flip-flop by the Centre. If it is not, this will hardly bode well for PTI’s first 100-day record. Or for citizenry confidence. And in the meanwhile, the entire country is awaiting concrete clarifications on all these fronts. *
Published in Daily Times, October 4th 2018.