Pakistan diary Part 3: India-Pakistan-China triangular cooperation? Why not?

How can one visit Pakistan and not talk about CPEC?

Many Indians, from scholars to commoners alike, see CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) suspiciously. They think it’s a proof of the so-called “China-Pakistan alliance” acting against India’s national interests. “Why,” they ask, “is CPEC passing through PoK which is Indian territory?” Another prevalent opinion, which parrots the opinion peddled in the western media, is that China is colonising Pakistan through CPEC just as it is doing the same with other countries that have join-ed its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This is not the place to comprehensively explain my own contrarian views on CPEC and BRI, except to say that I support them and have been advocating that India should join them. Indeed, I am also a votary of India-Pakistan-China triangular dialogue and cooperation, which I regard as indispensable for changing the destiny of South Asia. I am one of the very in our country championing this partnership. I am also one of the very few trying to point out that CPEC is making a huge contribution to modernising and expanding Pakistan’s infrastructure.

An opportunity to air my views came at the same conference where I met Lt Gen (retd) Janjua. Its theme was ‘Connectivity and Regional Cooperation in South Asia’. It was organised by the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS), which is headed by Muhammad Amir Rana, a young and promising leader. Here is the gist of what I said.

“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a revealing statement in his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Qingdao earlier in June. He said: ‘We have reached a stage where physical and digital connectivity is changing the definition of geography. Therefore, connectivity with our neighbourhood and in the SCO region is our priority.’

“Now, it should be obvious to all the observers of the Asian scenario, especially the South Asian scenario, that if New Delhi's priority is physical and digital connectivity with its neighbourhood and in the wider SCO region, it simply cannot bypass either China or Pakistan. The sheer compulsion of geography will not allow it to do so.

“Within the South Asian context, of utmost importance is connectivity, cooperation and bridge-building between India, Pakistan and China. In this India-Pakistan-China triangle, one side is very strong. That is Pakistan-China relations. The second side – India-China relations – is slowly becoming stronger. In the past four years, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping have met as many as 14 times. (They later met for the 15th time at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in the last week of July.) This strategic communication is contributing to strategic mutual trust and understanding. However, it is the third side of the triangle – India-Pakistan relations – which is at present very very weak.

“India-Pakistan hostility has cast a long shadow of lack of regional cooperation in the whole of South Asia. SAARC has become dysfunctional. South Asia is today one of the least integrated regions in the world. So much so, that there are not even direct flights between the capitals of India and Pakistan. Therefore, unless this third side of the India-Pakistan-China triangle is strengthened, there is no real hope for connectivity and common prosperity and progress in South Asia. There is no hope for even peace and security in South Asia.

I put forward another important idea at the conference. “By India joining (the renamed) CPEC, we can have vital land access on the western side to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. On the eastern side, India and China can cooperate in constructing the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) Corridor, as well as the China-Nepal-India Corridor.

By linking all these, we can create a grand SOUTH ASIA-CHINA ECONOMIC COOPERATION CORRIDOR, which will surely make our region one of the most prosperous regions in the world. All this will create growing economic inter-dependence and people-to-people contacts between India and Pakistan, which will have an additional historic outcome ─ it will help in resolving the Kashmir issue amicably.”

I met a remarkable Chinese diplomat at the conference. Lijian Zhao, deputy head of mission in the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, is arguably the most important foreign diplomat in the Pakistani capital. He is the main driver of CPEC and Pakistani journalists and think tank scholars I spoke to are in awe of his capabilities. Why? As several of them put it, “He has the deepest and highest-level contacts in Pakistan.”

In his keynote speech, Zhao said, “China respects the unique culture and historical traditions of the South Asian region. We are a sincere partner of South Asian countries. We will treat each other with respect and as equals, and accommodate each other’s comfort level to ensure long-term and sound growth of our relations. Only with win-win cooperation can we enlarge the pie of common interests and realise common prosperity.”

Just before boarding the PIA flight from Delhi to Lahore, I had posted on my Twitter account: “Going to Pakistan for ten days. As an humble bridge-builder between our two great nations. As a bearer of goodwill. With a heart full of prayer for peace. India-Pakistan ‘aman’ and amity are possible. Koshish karnevaalon ki haar nahin hoti. May God bless us.”

As I landed back in Delhi ten days later, I had the satisfaction of having made a modest but honest koshish (effort) for a noble cause. No less satisfying are the many new friendships with those Pakistanis who have been striving for the same cause. I was particularly happy to meet many young and intrepid activists of ‘Aaghaz-e-Dosti’, an organisation of peace crusaders in both India and Pakistan.

Spiritually, the most rewarding experience for me during this visit was the opportunity to travel to the Gurdwara at Nankana Sahib, and offer my prayers at the sacred birthplace of Guru Nanak Devji. One thing is certain: when India-Pakistan relations improve and are normalised, sky is the limit for what we can achieve separately, together, and in collaboration with all other countries in South Asia, including China.

The writer was an aide to India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He is currently engaged in activities to promote India-Pakistan and India-China relations

This is the concluding part of a three-part article that first appeared in National Herald on Sunday. Read the e-paper here

Read part 1 on Sudheendra Kulkarni’s interactions with Imran Khan here and part 2 Does the Pakistani army want peace with India? here