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A friend comes callingApr 23, 2015 02:04 AM | 42 comments

President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan needs to be seen as a game changer. With studieddeliberation and precision, the Chinese have utilised the presidential visit to alter the factson the ground. At the heart of Mr. Xis trip was the formal inauguration of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The ambitious project, with implications far beyondthe economic, would absorb investments up to $45 billion over the next 15 years. It wouldestablish transportation and energy infrastructure and do the groundwork for a number ofindustrial parks and smart cities, fuelling Chinese hopes if terrorism en route can becontained of turning Pakistan into a new tiger economy in Asia. By committing to pourbillions of dollars into infrastructure development over the years, China appears to havestolen a march over the U.S. and emerged as Pakistans unrivalled external partner. Chinasgolden run in Pakistan implies a significant mutation of the regional balance of power inSouth Asia and Afghanistan. Through the corridor from Kashgar, in Chinas restive Xinjiangprovince, to Gwadar, Beijing will find a point of access in the Indian Ocean at the virtual tri-junction of South Asia, West Asia and Africa.

The development of the CPEC is not necessarily bad for India or the region. On the contrary,Pakistans young people who find meaningful work in the projects are unlikely to enter thejihad factories. India should also welcome the impending joint initiative by China andPakistan to curtail terror groups along the corridor and in Afghanistan, provided the twocountries are able to steer clear of an exclusionary agenda, limiting Indias legitimateinterests in Kabul. In any case, it is imperative that Afghanistan is revisited in the NewDelhi-Beijing strategic dialogue following President Xis visit. So should be the proposedexport of eight Chinese submarines to Pakistan. Indian security planners may not beunduly perturbed by the sale, but any attempt by Pakistan to convert the submarines thatcan be done only with Chinese help as platforms for a nuclear second-strike capabilitymust be recorded as a red line. President Xis visit signals the emergence of newgeopolitical realities, calling for India adjusting itself to an emerging multipolar world. AsPrime Minister Narendra Modi heads to China next month, he thus faces a rapidly evolvinggeopolitical landscape in South Asia and Afghanistan. India has not done too badly inpartnering China in the evolving global financial architecture, underscored by the AsianInfrastructure Investment Bank, the BRICS-led New Development Bank, and the pursuit ofmembership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Indias interests may be well-served if it dons the role of a cooperative balancing force by pursuing independentengagement with the U.S., Japan and ASEAN, even as it deepens ties with Beijing, based onmaturity, realism and mutual benefit.

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Vivek Gopalakrishnan One cant help but juxtapose the proposed China Pakistan Economic corridor withthe Mumbai-Delhi Industrial corridor. (MDIC) It would have been a win-winsituation for India and China if the plan was realized by extending the MDIC to theKandla Port in Gujarat to J&K or Tibet in the north. The idea might sound quixotic,but pulling off such ideas brings us closer in realizing the Chindian Century. It istime strategists from both sides see the long term geopolitical and economic

time strategists from both sides see the long term geopolitical and economicimplications of such a partnership. India gains by increased trade and developmentwhile containing the influence of Pakistan while China can deal with India as atrusted economic partner and build the route more economically while protectingits trade interests. There is nothing like that when the dragon and the elephantshake hands!

3 days ago (0) (0) reply (0)

Sunil China Pak tie up would not harm india but would certainly have a impact on notonly India but also some friends of world economy. Facts countered terrorism inpak can never be stopped as because indirectly its a right of Pakistani citizens tohave education at jihadi schools and the military and political powers arepromoting it. Last years, incident reminds that terrorism is not about attackingother states but attacking other innocents. China objective to have relation withPak & Sri lanka is very clear that to grow as a power source in south-east asia anddrive the economy. Whereas Silk-route and ocean highways are the primary steptowards it.


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Tirtha India should support the initiative of china for the development of Pakistan. Thedevelopment will lead to employment and flow of money. The youth of Pakistanwill focus on development raather than terrorist activities.


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Chandra Prakash The hidden agenda behind this collaboration is lucid that China wants to make itsimpact in Indian ocean and nothing else. Otherwise why a country with fosteringeconomy will made a huge investment in such a terrorist wrapped nation where ahuge amount of its budget is expended in proxy war against India.Even majority ofits citizens are living in extreme poverty but they are burgeoning their nuclearweapons .Let them do their job and we do ours.China should know we Indians arenot of 1960 and we are too strong to pull us back from such circumstances.vandematram


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Bala Srinivasan It is a balanced unbiased article.india is approaching these developments with apragmatic self interest which is also a sign of maturity.Wealth creation in nationbuilding solves many major national issues.As long as CHINA is not into stirringtrouble in the region it should be ok.


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R.Sundararaman Ramanathan In spite of our opening gates for all Chinese goods and the balance of trade alwaysin their favour, they do not acknowledge our friend ship and by all means we are

in their favour, they do not acknowledge our friend ship and by all means we areconsidered as rival by every count.WE should limit our expectations and relianceon their word as well as their deed.Our aim should be self reliant and be preparedfor eventualities as in the case of 1962.It is always better to have reservations andshould not take chances.We can afford to costly products and technologies thanChinese things.We have to enlist our allies and strengthen ties and demand earlysettlement with Chinese dispute .


Devanshi If this partnership between China and Pakistan success, India will benefit, as longas we keep our house in order and continue to improve our economicperformance. This will provide space and time to India for uninterrupteddevelopment. At the end of 10 -15 ears India will not have to be nervous aboutthreats fro neighborhood. India need not worry about motives of others. Pakistanwill continue to have significant limitations.


Dinesh Chinese foreign aid to Pakistan is unfortunate for neighbours. There is chance toinvest some part of this aid to strong the terrorists activities against India andinvestment in defence mechanism of Pakistan shows the intention of china clearly.


Mayank Bhadauria china india and pakistan the trio can be treated as the sides of an triangle all threehave their independent exostence in the global scenario but sum if any two shouldnot exceed the third one .this strategic leap of china's government can be seen as apositive step because china is dearer to pakistan than USA or india and it asks pakto control terrorism pak has to do it . the silver lining of this relationship is theeconomic corridor which will be set up by both countries as asia needs somethingout of the box solution of its economic problems and to tell the world that it is notthe continent of third world countries. thank you


Aatish Sharma China's economic partnerships with Pakistan ought to be welcomed by India, but itis the strategic and defence partnership between the two that remains the bugbearand continues to cast aspersions over China's duality when it comes to India. But,yes given the strong government that we have got after a long while, it becomescrucial that we engage with China on all outstanding issues and let economics takecentre stage in the evolving global scenario where India and China must realisethat their coming together will be mutually beneficial.


Seema For once China's engagement with Pakistan does not ring a bell. Terrorism cannotbe completely wiped out of Pakistan in the first go, but the development of an

be completely wiped out of Pakistan in the first go, but the development of aneconomic corridor between the two countries will certainly ease the intensity. Thisis a relief and welcome news for India. Engaging the youth of the neighbourhood isgoing to have a positive impact globally.

4 days ago (1) (0) reply (0) jagdish Up Voted

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Sneh Chakraburtty at HAPPILY RETIRED The Corridor being or to be built will be of benefit as employment for the newgeneration of unemployed youth of Pakistan


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Harbajan Singh india has to traverse through a balanced approach.

4 days ago (1) (0) reply (0) harbajan singh Up Voted

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Mantu Murmu The initiative taken by China has many strategic reasons to fulfill its interests.Firstly, it can have better negotiated Trade terms with beleaguered Pakistan.Secondly, China would like to develop a Trade/Military dominance in the AsiaPacific space. The point is whether China has introspected that their efforts will insome way help Pakistan cut down terrorist activities in its soil, if it is in China'sinterest, or does China has a hidden agenda to disrupt India's challengingdevelopment. The Center has to take a call and initiate dialogue with Chinaconsidering all the aspects positive and negative.


Vida This is just a strategic anti-India alliance between China and pakistan. China is fullyaware that Pakistan is a failed and dysfunctional state riddled with Islamic religiousterrorism and a feudal patriarchical society. No proper Human and women's rightsand a desperate law and order situation. However China persists with this strangealliance to counter india's strategic power and economic clout. By investing billionsin Pakistan, China hopes for an upturn in fortunes, greater cooperation fromPakistan in preventing Uighurs from having safe havens in pakistan for terrortraining. But seriously China is 'flogging a dead horse'. Chinese workers and theinfrastructural work they complete will always be threatened by Islamic terrorgroups who will always view China and all foreigners with suspicion.

4 days ago (3) (0) reply (0) MUKUNDARAJAN AnandKumar Suvojit Up Voted

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Baron Benjamin This fits in with Chinese "String-of-Pearls" policy of acquiring strategic assets, in thiscase access to Gwadar port in Pakistan, to encircle India. The loud silence of theModi government to this development is surprising.The proposed

Modi government to this development is surprising.The proposedrail/road/pipeline/power infrastructure will run through Pak occupied Kashmir thatlegitimately belongs to India. India has not uttered a word of protest. China, at theslightest excuse, protests loudly over Arunachal Pradesh. India needs to wake up &act decisively & fast. India should proclaim a strategic alliance withUS/Australia/New Zealand/Japan/Vietnam/Phillipines, all whom desperately wantan active India (which, unlike China, has no claims on their land/maritime territory)to counter China's malevolent and aggressive moves in the South China sea.Through such strategic engagements,India must deter China before it getsencircled by China's strategic assets close to India's borders and gets arm-twistedin the disputed border negotiations.

4 days ago (4) (0) reply (0) kk Vida ShashiRane Up Voted

Anand Kumar I like the generosity of the author to claim that the prosperity and job creation inPakistan with help of China will curb the Jihad. But nation can't afford the secondchance of perfidiousness rather I would enjoy to be an sceptic in such case. ourforeign policy should maintain the status quo of the view of Sardar Patel, who wasalways cautious against the move of China. His letter to the then PM Nehru was notless than a foreseer in thought and action. we can figure out the problems ofBangladeshi migrants, Pakistan led terrorism but we can't accept the soft economicconspiracy of China.

4 days ago (1) (0) reply (0) Vida Up Voted

AMAN AGRAWAL Huge 45billion dollar investment. Is needed if we look at the economic status ofPakistan which is one eighth of India.it requires investment in electricitygeneration,infrastructure, industries etc. But the economic corridor is strategicapproach of china to open itself to the west Asia and to expand its reach in thesouth Asian front as well.

4 days ago (1) (0) reply (0) Vida Up Voted

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Ar11 Pakistan clearly differentiates between good and bad terrorists. The activities of'good terrorists' who attack India are controlled by Pakistan's Sate agencies. WHileit is true that the economic corridor will create more opportunities for employmentand absorb young workforce who would otherwise be attracted to radicalisation, itdoesnt guarantee the breakdown of jihadi network. Pakistan has created them asstrategic assets and would continue to use them.


SARANATHAN China and Pakistan are following the only policy of enemy's enemy is my bestfriend. Therefore, your edit is only a wishful thinking that the economiccollaboration would benefit all, including India! Points1000


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V. The most favourable interpretation that one can think of is that China is doingPakistan a good turn by giving it an opportunity to use the promised Chineseinvestment over the next 10 years and use it in areas especially affected by theactivities of home-bred terrorists. If Pakistan uses this opportunity in that spirit,then it is possible that Pakistan shall not be spoken of in unkind words but as adeveloping country working hard to divert its misguided youth to gainful channelsof legitimate employment. If there are openings for Pakistan's youth, it is possiblethat they may shun the path of terrorism and go into useful avocations. Thereinlies hope for the people of Pakistan. Let us hope the leaders of Pakistan do notfritter away the new opportunity by persisting with a chimera like a jugular vein ora dream of parity. No one ever achieved anything by pursuing a chimera or adream. Perhaps some people in Pakistan may be realistic. vcbhutani

4 days ago (3) (0) reply (0) The_Politician Muskan AnandKumar Up Voted

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Ravi Anything China does is to be welcomed says N. Ram's family outfit The Hindu, evenif it is arming the enemy nation! The Hindu mourns with Rahul Gandhi the demiseof USSR. So what is left, MFN agreement with North Korea?

4 days ago (7) (2) reply (0) vyasVyasakaveendra Raghu krishna Vinayak Up VotedGaurav kapyS Down Voted

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Anil Right after 1962, the focus of China is to undercut India's strengths by colludingwith Pakistan. It is their mutual interest which is the cause of this behavior andcannot be objected logically. India has to find a partner in Japan or USA to balancethis China - Pakistan - North Korea nexus.

4 days ago (4) (0) reply (0) vyasVyasakaveendra Vida krishna Up Voted

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Mujeeb Rahman World powers like America has made Pakistan like muslim countries jihadfactories.But a tireless effort to usher in developments with maximummanpowering in the economic corridors collaborating with China seems to create anew developmental history in Pakistan and it will help rub indeed the blots thrustupon it by the invisible global net work.


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MUKUNDARAJAN Like individuals, nations also commit serious blunders when they becomeoverconfident. The ruling elites of China have been blinded by delusional visions ofChinese global supremacy. That is why they didn't do their homework while

Chinese global supremacy. That is why they didn't do their homework whiledeciding to invest billions in infrastructural projects in a nation tottering on theprecipice of existential implosion. The Chinese should know that investing in anation that has been irreparably radicalized is throwing good money at bad ideas.If economic prosperity is the antidote to terrorism, then Saudi Arabia and Qatarshould have been the most moderate Islamic nations.

4 days ago (4) (1) reply (0) SrinivasanThittai Vida HK anil Up VotedGaurav Down Voted

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Mushtaqh Ali Only in the land of the Arthashastra is it possible to glibly fool the people thatinternational diplomacy requires not hard and continuous toil covered byimaginative hard sell of national priorities. There is no place for the innocents orthe idealists but the pragmatists with sound backing of data and figures who arewilling to negotiate and bargain at the table, will find greater room and respect forthe countries they represent. It is here that India is seriously handicapped. With abunch of insecure leaders heading parties past their expiry dates and prescriptionslifted from some bygone age, how is India going to take a reasonable stand? Allthat these leaders want to prove is that they can take a strong stand and that isenough to raise a cheer of approval among the middle class of the population, soout of touch with its needy brethren to even notice their discomfiture. Fractured bycaste and class, isolated by economic bubbles, can Indians ever unite to be a proudnation?

4 days ago (3) (2) reply (1) vyasVyasakaveendra Gaurav anil Up VotedVida HK Down Voted

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natarajan Very correctly said. We need to change our foreign policy drasticallycompatible to new realities; mending fences with china and Pakistan(both literally and figuratively!) is the need of the hour. When regionalhostilities are ended, resources could be diverted for more productivepurposes eliminating in one go unemployment and poverty.


Hariharan Pv at Sumangali Seva Ashrama, Bangalore Every nation would have to look inward first, and then think of other externalinvolvements. Both India and China have a combined populations of over 2.6billion (almost equal in each nation), which is 34% of world total. "Expansions" byway of such infrastructure in "other" lands may have short term positiveimplications; but one can never predict the long term consequences in thisdynamic world, where today's youngsters grow to become older generation inabout 20 to 25 years. Viewed from this angle, we may note that no country withexpansionist thoughts, has had any positive long term impacts, as the USA has hadto face. Today, the USA stands the most hated nation, both within and without,having meddled and directed almost the entire world's functioning for well over 75years, from the Second World war times. If China thinks they have a slot in that inthe current scenario, the long term implications could be not positive, but negative


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4 days ago (0) (2) reply (4) Raghu Down Voted

Suvojit "USA stands the most hated nation" - How do you know this to be true?Do majority Indians hate the USA? Sometimes it is wiser to ponder beforewriting some gibberish just because one has access to a computer andinternet, even a trained monkey can do that.


Raghu Complete and total garbage. How many Indians want to go to the U.S?Millions. How many want to go to China? Hardly any. Most hated nation,my foot! There is no fool like an old fool writing his personal hatefulthoughts as facts.


Hariharan Pv at Sumangali Seva Ashrama, Bangalore THE HINDU and the forum here are not for unparliamentarybalderdash... please. If one does not have enough knowledgeand democratic understanding, it does not mean others areintolerant and incompetent


Hariharan Pv at Sumangali Seva Ashrama, Bangalore Suvojit and Raghu may like to read: Russia Insider: The decline and fall ofthe United States. Pl google and learn


Hariharan Pv at Sumangali Seva Ashrama, Bangalore Mr Suvojit (hope the name is correct), please use some intelligent way ofexpression with civility and decency in discussing matters here. We mustknow to respect peers here. Hope you regain that composure soonerthan later


L R Dhulipala Most of what the editorial says about the impact of the Chinese initiatives onPakistan's economy and political landscape is plausible. It may stem Pakistaniyouth joining Jihad brigades, and help the Chinese contain Uighur extremism. Butwhether it will stop Pakistan from using terrorists as an instrument to harass India,and slow down her development is doubtful. Of course a stable and prosperousPakistan is to be welcomed by India, but whether Pakistan welcomes a prosperousand stable India is a matter of doubt, in the light of recent historical events.


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4 days ago (1) (0) reply (0) anil Up Voted

Omprakash Upadhyay China is super six member Pmt member of UN security council the trend now RCIis over with Dr Manmohan sing since govt change their agenda changed. SAARChave no valued since it was product of new honest young brain leader to short outall differences and should not suffer the nation and public both killed. Differencesmay in family and nabour but one should be in mind going outside is more costlythan short out near giving such land to China is Pakistan prosperous as Hindu saidbut criminal activity in J&K since long for non of their right they took what theywanted in the name of religion in 1947. India has no fear since now atleast USAhave seen both their old friend faced openly for what they are doing being onecoming togethor which was root of 1962 & land occupied by China & 1965 is alsowitness three were a side 1971 also was but we reached Lahore and left thousandof war slaves military on humanatarian gorun also land but these forces can do ifhonest leader in India


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Vyas Vyasakaveendra at cemes If Pakitan utilises the opportunity provided by China and concentrate ondevelopment properly, it can surge ahead in removing poverty from its land fasterthan its neighbours.


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