CPEC is not a holy
cow, Dr Shabir Choudhry
London 13 December 2016
Pakistan faces many
serious problems; and among them is the status and invulnerability of holy cows,
and people who are above the Pakistani laws. Bitter fact is growth in number of
holy cows, accumulation of wealth and power they possess.
CPEC is not a
living being, yet it has also gained the status of being a holy cow; and people
are warned of serious consequences if they dare to oppose or criticise this new
holy cow.
I know some people
who are accused of being ‘anti Pakistan’ and ‘agent’ of foreign powers because
they dared to criticise holy cows; and some are facing sedition charges for
attacking CPEC and demanding a share in benefits.
I am also among
those ‘bad guys’ who are perceived as ‘disrespectful’ and critics of this holy
cow; and who demand a fair share in the benefits because it runs without
permission through our land, Gilgit Baltistan which is part of the former
Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.
My loyalty is not
with our neighbours
Pakistani
officials, some Pakistani people and Kashmiri foot soldiers of Pakistan may not
like what I write or say. Their disliking and even hatred does not deter me
from speaking out to protect and promote interests of people of Jammu and
Kashmir State. In my opinion CPEC could have the following negative effects on
Gilgit Baltistan:
·
Status of Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Gilgit Baltistan can change
because of the CPEC;
·
A serious danger in the demographic changes; already hundreds of
thousands of non local people reside there and control local economy and
politics;
·
Exploitation of our resources will increase;
·
We will suffer from enormous environment problems;
·
Growing influence and power of
secret agencies of Pakistan and competing interests of secret agencies of other
countries;
·
Stationing of foreign troops to protect the CEPC route;
·
Possible stationing of non state actors of countries or groups who want
to sabotage the project;
· There is a serious danger that Gilgit Baltistan could become a
battleground for competing interests of countries
and their proxies.
I am a citizen of
State of Jammu and Kashmir and my loyalty is with State and its people. I don’t
have to be loyal to neighbours of Jammu and Kashmir or to those who occupy us.
If I don’t defend interests of Jammu and Kashmir; and refrain from speaking against
the above issues then I am a ‘traitor’.
CPEC could be a
holy cow to some Pakistanis; but to China it is an economic project with
strategic and military significance. Chinese are very cruel businessmen; they
will fully exploit Pakistan just like Pakistan is exploiting resources of
Pakistani Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. My fear is despite much hype
and attraction, CPEC will prove to be a white elephant for Pakistan; and it
could be Pakistan’s Waterloo.
Because of poor
economic performance and rampant corruption Pakistan has difficulty in paying
back loans obtained at very low interest rates. One wonders how Pakistan is
going to pay back the loan of CPEC with very high interest rate. People need to
be told that more than 35 billion dollars is a loan with very high interest
rate. Pakistan will soon face enormous difficulties in paying back even the
instalments of the loan that will result in China having virtual control of
Gwadar and other issues related to CPEC and strategic matters.
One critic of the
CPEC said: ‘China is building CPEC with Pakistan's money to trade
with India, Middle East and South Africa etc. China has given loans to Pakistan
at high interest to pay for CPEC. This money goes to china. China will recover
these loans from Pakistan. For China it is win - win situation. Pakistan is net
loser’.
Former Chairman of
State of Pakistan said, only from four cities, Karachi Peshawar, Lahore and
Quetta 25 Million dollars are sent abroad every day. What will be result of
this? Can anyone imagine what will happen in future to Pakistan and its
development plans? 1
Balance
of trade between China and Pakistan
Pakistan signed a
Free Trade Agreement with China in 2007. Result of that is extremely negative
on Pakistani industry; as it flooded the country with cheap Chinese imports.
The trade deficit with China reached almost $4bn in 2013, and two years later,
in 2015 it jumped to $9.1bn. Some economic experts even claim that the ‘trade
deficit with China is expected to be $13 billion in 2016 and $18 in 2017’. 2
This is alarming
to say the least. Can you imagine how this deficit will grow when the CPEC
becomes operational? Also keep in mind that hundreds of thousands of people
from the Middle East are being sent home. This year alone nearly 3 lakh
Pakistanis and Kashmiris were sent back from the Middle East. More people are
likely to be sent back next year. That will also affect Pakistan’s economic
development and CPEC as Pakistan will not be able to pay off the loan with very
high interest.
Both China and Pakistan are currently negotiating
terms of Free Trade Agreement; and experts caution that Pakistan should not all
or too many eggs in the CPEC basket. Pakistan should leave sufficient space to
look for alternatives, as Pakistan has potential for regional integration, and
there are neighbours with whom trade agreements could be concluded. One critic
said:
‘It takes backbone to negotiate tariffs. The
Pakistani state bent over backwards to get CPEC started, and agreed to crazy
interest rates. That does not bode well for any future negotiations. When China
says "jump", Pakistan always seems to say "how high". 3
A
view of people of Jammu and Kashmir
Anyone who
criticise the CPEC or demand a rightful share is portrayed as an ‘agent of
enemy’ and ‘anti Pakistan’; and that deters thinking people to remain quiet on
the topic. However some genuinely believe that this economic project could be a
‘game changer’; but they are not sure in whose favour it may change the game.
May be the above in
mind, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, a Kashmiri religious and political leader while
speaking on the CPEC said:
‘It is an
opportunity for J&K also to be part of old Silk Route, once again. We can
be part of the CPEC, even before the resolution of Kashmir issue and become a
part of Central Asian discourse rather than a South Asian discourse. Kashmir
can become a gateway for India as well’. He further
said, ‘I am sure India will also want to be part of CPEC’; but did not explain
reasons for his assurance. 4
Overwhelming people
of Jammu and Kashmir want peace and harmony and not a war or and attrition.
They want to live in peace and economic stability, which can only come if there
is peace in the region, hence they support economic projects. But at the same
times they don’t want plundering of their natural resources by those who occupy
our beautiful and resource rich land.
Resentment, anger
and rebellious attitude against the system is created when he/she is a victim
of inequality; and is systematically exploited and oppressed. The system
instead of analysing the causes of resentment and rebellious trends or
rectifying its own shortcomings accuses the victim; which aggravate the
situation even more.
For example, when
East Pakistan was part of Pakistan, the ruling Punjabi elite of West Pakistan
said distribution of wealth or resources should be based on the area and not
population (because East Pakistan had more population). When East Pakistan
became Bangladesh, the same elite changed its stance and said distribution of
resources should be based on the population (because now Punjab had the largest
population), hence deprivation of other provinces of the remaining Pakistan.
People may remain
quiet but they are not fools that they don’t understand who is doing what. If
people are calling CPEC – China Punjab Economic Corridor it is because of the
feeling of exploitation and unfair treatment. One man from Gilgit Baltistan
says: ‘70 years without any
basic rights, now completely ignored in CPEC by state while Gilgit Baltistan is
CPEC gateway; even state didn't appoint security personal from GB’.
According to a
report by Pamir Times, lands acquired for the purpose of CPEC people of Gilgit Baltistan are
denied compensation. In frustration people of Gojal Valley protested and demanded
payment, and action against NHA officials. ‘It is pertinent to note that so
far not a single penny has been paid to the land owners in Gojal Valley’. On
one hand Poor people wanted compensation for their land and other hand they
were that they could face sedition charges so the worried protesters were also
chanting Pakistan army zindbaad (long live), hoping that this flattering will
help. 5
It is also pertinent
to mention that Pakistan government has planned to establish 29 special
economic zones along the CPEC route; and according to
Sultan Rais, Chairman Awami Action Committee of Gilgit Baltistan, ‘CPEC will
pass through 600 kilometers area of Gilgit-Baltistan but it is unfortunate that
they are not getting even a single industrial zone or any development project.’
To
hoodwink people the Pakistani officials say they are building so many roads
which will help people of the area. That is not true. If they wanted to help
people they could have built roads before this. These roads are built for the
CPEC traffic and related projects.
According
to figures presented to the Pakistani Parliament by Chaudhry Nisar the Home
Minister:
1.
Punjab has
176 projects where 6346 Chinese work; and 3754 security personnel care for them.
2.
Sindh has
103 projects where 1141 Chinese work; 2635 security personnel care for them.
3.
KPK has 19
Projects with 698 Chinese workers and 1912 security personnel.
4.
Balochistan
has 8 projects with 558 Chinese workers and 3134 security personnel.
5.
Islamabad
has 6 projects with 885 Chinese workers and 439 security personnel.
Total: Projects 312 Chinese 9628 Security
men 16703. 6
For people of Gilgit Baltistan are environmental
problems, exploitation, land grabbing, oppression and intimidation.
Military aspect of
the Port
Apart
from economic aspects, Gwadar also has a great strategic and military
significance. Astonishingly, not much attention is given to this; and even not much
has been said about a deal of eight submarines to be supplied by
China to Pakistan, which will surely elevate Pakistan’s naval military
strength. Chinese military ships and submarines have already taken their
positions in and around Gwadar.
Panos Mourdoukoutas writes in Forbes that ‘China desperately needs the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC). It’s part of that nation’s vision to write the rules of the
next stage of globalization and help its export and investment engines grow for
years to come...China has to
either appease India or “forget” about the CPEC project’. 7
The article
further suggests: “If pro-Indian forces in Pakistan sabotage China’s CPEC
route,” China should expect an open confrontation against India, because that raises the possibility of an open confrontation between China
and Pakistan on the one side, and India and its allies on the other. 8
The recent convoy carrying goods from
China to Gwadar had more than one reason. It was to credit Raheel Sharif for
his services to the civilian government and to the cause of fighting terrorism.
Also it was to boost the morale of the people that the CPEC is on course to
success and that the civilian government is serious about all the projects
related to the CPEC. It was also to demonstrate that Pakistani military had the
ability to protect the route.
The security escort involved more
than a hundred personnel, and as many vehicles as there were trucks. In
addition, there was helicopter protection throughout the journey, as well as
drone surveillance from above. The convoy took more than two weeks to reach
Gwadar, so stops had to be arranged for such a large number of trucks, which
required sleeping arrangements, food and parking space.
From Quetta to Gwadar alone, the
journey took four nights, with the fifth being in Gwadar. The route is barren
and empty except for two small towns along the way (Panjgur and Turbat), with
no maintenance facilities for vehicular traffic, no place to get food for the
drivers, and no place to spend the night.
Providing this level of security to
highly valuable convoy which had political, strategic and military significance
is one thing; but will the army be able to provide this level of security to
all those travelling on this route throughout the year?
It is claimed that Key to success of CPEC is stability in Balochistan;
and to some extent peace and stability in Gilgit Baltistan. Can there be peace
when people are denied of their fundamental rights, their natural resources are
systematically plundered; and in some areas F16, Cobra helicopters and guns are
in action?
Whether one likes
it or not, fact is that there is a credible presence of tens of thousands of
Chinese military personnel on the Pakistani soil and on Jammu and Kashmiri soil
controlled by Pakistan. Also the Chinese navy is playing an active part in and
around Gwadar. Doesn’t that undermine sovereignty of Pakistan? Or is it
acceptable because Chinese are paying a good price for that? Like me there will
be many others who would like to know what disaster it will bring to Gilgit
Baltistan?
Apart from proxies
of other countries the role of banned terrorist organizations, including Taliban
and Daaesh will also be essential because some of them are extremely angry with
Pakistan, and may create problems for the CPEC related projects to settle
scores with the Pakistani state.
To understand the real situation of Balochistan and
possible threats to the CPEC we cannot ignore sentiments of the local people. Home
Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti has stated on
Saturday that 13,575 terrorists were arrested while 337 killed in around
2,825 operations in the province in 2015-16. Of course figures provided by the rebels are much higher
and helps to understand gravity of the situation. 9
Bramdagh Bugti, grandson of Akbar
Bugti, not only thanked Modi for his open support to people of Balochistan, but
also hoped Narendra Modi would raise this issue at international forums. He
maintained: “It is too late; we can’t remain with Pakistan any longer as it
has deprived us of basic rights.”
Mama Qadeer, another renegade
Baloch leader, told the German Radio, “India supports our cause and the
Baloch people appreciate it. Islamabad takes it as Indian interference. They
blamed India’s RAW for the Quetta attack. They like to blame everything on RAW.
The authorities even call me a RAW agent.”
No matter how rosy
picture they present of Gwadar, bitter fact is that there are severe problems
which need to be resolved before smooth sailing of the CPEC. Even there is no drinking
water and people are facing enormous problems.
Gwadar is now presented as a life line to Pakistan, but not many people
know that Gwadar was not part of Pakistan until 8 December 1958. Legally this
territory was part of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman; and Pakistani Prime
Minister Feroz Khan Noon bought it for 3 million dollars.
CPEC also provides China great military and strategic advantage as it
will enable China to monitor Indian and American activities from Gilgit
Baltistan and Balochistan, especially from Gwadar. Gwadar can in future
develop into a well-equipped military naval base, which would provide
China an enormous strategic advantage in the region. This will result in increased rivalry in the Arabian Sea and the Indian
Ocean between India, China and other interested parties.
Pakistan will be once again in the eye of storm; and Pakistan may not be
able to deal effectively with the challenges and the mounting debts, especially
with high interest rates of the CPEC loan. Perhaps to settle certain issues or
for the safety and security of Pakistan they may compromise on Gwadar or some
other national strategic assets, even on nuclear related issues.
My
fear is because of the reasons discussed above there is danger that after
sometime Gwadar may not be in control of Pakistan, as China will have a
complete control of Gwadar. They will decide what to do and who should benefit
from the facilities of the Chinese built port.
Writer is a political
analyst, TV anchor and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Chairman
South Asia Watch; Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email:drshabirchoudhry@gmail.
References:
1/ Haroon Rasheed,
Daily Dunya, 12 December 2016.
3/ Ibid, comment on editorial Dawn
6/ The Express
Tribune, 03 September 2016
8/ibid
9/ Daily Nation, Pakistan, August 20, 2016.
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