Khalid Mansoor, the czar of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), came out swinging on Saturday (23 October), accusing the US of plotting plans against the multibillion-dollar project.
The special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on CPEC affairs while speaking at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) during the CPEC Summit, accused the US of conspiring with India against Pakistan’s economic lifeline.
Mr. Mansoor said, “From the point of view of the emerging geostrategic situation, one thing is clear: The United States supported by India is inimical to CPEC. It will not let it succeed. That’s where we have to take a position.”
With 71 projects of $27.3 billion now under progress as part of CPEC, Islamabad is the seventh-largest recipient of Chinese overseas development financing. CPEC has been dubbed an economic trap by many Western think tanks and journalists, as it has already resulted in bloated public debt levels and disproportionately high Chinese involvement in the domestic economy.
According to the premier’s adviser, the US and India are still “trying to pull Pakistan out of” China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global infrastructure development plan in which China has invested extensively in around 70 countries.
Furthermore, Khalid Mansoor said “There’s no way Pakistan will forgo any of its benefits. It has more than once burnt its fingers in (the Western) alliance in the past.”
Moreover, he said that the powers of the West view CPEC as a symbol of strong political ambition from China’s side. In addition, he said, “That’s the reason CPEC is seen suspiciously by both the United States and Europe, they view CEPC more as a move by China to expand its political, strategic and business influence.”
According to him, the US is now “taking stock of the economic and political ramifications” of leaving the region.
In addition, he said “I had a very, very detailed discussion with the American embassy people. I told them CPEC is available for them as well. They have also expressed their wish that they would like to develop involvement and see how it can be beneficial for both countries.”
CPEC extended till Afghanistan
According to the SAPM, Islamabad wants the CPEC to be expanded to Afghanistan, and it has discussed the possibility of Taliban-led Afghanistan joining the multibillion-dollar economic corridor.
He stated that strengthening economic linkages between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as other neighboring nations such as Iran, has piqued his interest. Additionally, he said, “A number of European countries have expressed an interest” (in CPEC). “Their ambassadors continue to arrive.”
