Afghanistan could join $57b CPEC, says Chinese FM

[Shahzaz ud din]

Afghanistan could join $57b CPEC, says Chinese FM

• Beijing wants Afghanistan's ancient trade routes to be part of new 'Silk Road'
• Foreign ministers from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan hold first of its kind trilateral talks with a resolve to promote political reconciliation

Pakistan
by Web Desk | Published on December 26, 2017 (Edited December 26, 2017)

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KABUL – China and Pakistan are looking to include Afghanistan in their multi-billion economic corridor, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

The $57 billion project is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative linking China with Asia, Europe and beyond.

Optimistic of the economic corridor benefitting the entire region, Mr Yi said the CPEC would significantly boost regional development.

Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing that Afghanistan, urgently needing to improve people’s lives, could join the inter-connectivity initiatives.

He was talking to the media after the first of its kind Afghanistan-China-Pakistan trilateral talks at foreign ministers level concluded in Beijing with a resolve to promote political reconciliation.

On the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a delegation from Pakistan and Afghanistan reached Beijing to attend the moot. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani headed the respective delegations.

According to a joint press release, “The three foreign ministers agreed to jointly work together on political mutual trust and reconciliation, development cooperation and connectivity, security cooperation and counter-terrorism as three topics of the trilateral cooperation”.

Wang Yi said, under the broader Belt and Road project, Beijing is planning to build a new “Silk Road” connecting China to Southeast and Central Asia by land and the Middle East and Europe by sea.

“So China and Pakistan are willing to look at with Afghanistan, on the basis of win-win, mutually beneficial principles, using an appropriate means to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan,” he added.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been strained since the US invaded the South Asian country with China trying to promote talks between the parties. In recent years, the task has been even more complicated as Afghanistan accused Pakistan of supporting Taliban insurgents fighting the US-backed government in Kabul to restrict India’s influence in the country. Pakistan has denied the allegations.

It is important for Afghanistan to join the inter-connectivity initiatives as it is a vital necessity to improve its people’s lives, according to Wang Yi, who said Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to mend their uneasy relations.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said, “The successful implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects will serve as a model for enhancing connectivity and cooperation through similar projects with neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, Iran and with Central and West Asia.”

The Indian authorities are reportedly wary of the project due to its long-time row with Pakistan over Kashmir. New Delhi sees Pakistan-administered Kashmir as its own territory. However, the plan (Belt and Road) has nothing to do with territorial disputes, according to Wang.

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[MultaniGuy]

Well obviously Afghanistan should join CPEC for prosperity.

 

[alphapak]

Not with the Americans still in Afghanistan and the Northern Alliance
in power.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Not with the Americans still in Afghanistan and the Northern Alliance
in power.

Agreed with you. These Northern Alliance are scum.

 

[Maxpane]

whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Time for A-CPEC? Win win for all. Give Indians indigestion.

@Chinese-Dragon

 

[Menace2Society]

Not with the Americans still in Afghanistan and the Northern Alliance
in power.

Yes im sure chinese have given Afghanistan demands. There will be regime change for sure.

 

[Jaanbaz]

That could be problematic since Afghanistan is awash with CIA and Gangadeshi operatives who wouldn't think twice to harm China and Pakistan, but on the other hand opening Afghanistan could mean China would gain more influence in Afghanistan and thus ending Indian terrorism emitting from Afghanistan.

 

[alphapak]

China should give countries like Afghanistan and Iran to choose between
China or India.

 

[Thanatos]

That is just a preliminary discussion. China has promised to invest a large sum of money in development of infrastructure particularly roads and railways , connecting it with western corridor of CPEC in Pakistan. They have also expressed desire in extracting the minerals from afgh as well. China has assured Afghanistan that they will not interfere in the internal politics of Afghans, however has sought surety from Afghanistan regarding safe passage for trade and that all terror network inside Afghanistan which is threat to CPEC specifically and Pakistan in general would be dismantled.

Both China and Pakistan understands the risks involved however are very optimistic for a permanent local solution to the problem with regard to Afgha.

On the other hand, I wonder what happened to US threat of putting Pakistan "on notice" . Every time US threats Pakistan, it makes Sinopak relationship even stronger.

Also indian presence in Afghanistan is no threat to Pakistan in the long run as we all know what will happen once US and allied forces leave Afghanistan. However india has taken full advantage of uncertainty in Afghanistan, but this is short-lived and received a big blow after defeat of Taliban in tribal areas. Indian sponsor terrorism will continue but the magnitude and frequency will go down with passage of time. Pakistan has also used "indian card" ( i.e paranoia of indian presence in afghanistan) as an excuse for not taking decisive action against the haqqani network despite severe pressure from US.

 

[SMC]

Few questions on this.

1) What will exactly Afghanistan trade with this route? Will it be mostly opium? Or will they extend to other markets? Ecstasy, weed, etc?
2) What will be required for safe passage of trade traffic through areas controlled by Taliban, ISIS, TTP, etc? Will the drive have to go down on someone from those groups so the truck can pass?