China, Pakistan relations on shaky ground as Beijing drops investment plans in Islamabad

deteriorating security and economic situation in Pakistan has seemed to have shaken so-called “all-wear friendship” between Islamab and Beijing. According to Times of Israel, Political expert Sergio Restelli noted several instances of Pakistan being humiliated at hands of China including halted China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and telecommunication tower belonging to China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak). He said that cracks have surfaced in “higher than mountains”, “deeper than oceans” kind of relationship between Pakistan and China, even though two nations tout ir friendship as unprecedented. 

" 62-billion-dollar economic corridor (CPEC) from Kashgar in Xinjiang to Gwar on Arabian coast, has been hailed as people of Pakistan thought it would bring prosperity and riches for m. But now, it seems CPEC is turning out to be an albatross around Pakistan's neck,” Sergio said.

“Since day deal was signed, questions have been raised about issues like lack of transparency, hidden terms and conditions of loans offered, influx of Chinese labourers in Pakistan, mounting debt," he ded. 

Deteriorating Pak-China relations 

Furr, political expert went on to also note that woes for Pakistan have also arisen out of CPEC as, in latest development, Beijing asked Islamab to pay $38 million as compensation for nine deceased Chinese workers and engineers who h died in a bomb blast in July. ditionally, Sergio said that a telecommunication tower belonging to China Capital Mobile Pakistan which was destroyed in restive North Waziristan region by explosives has also complicated relations between two nations. 

According to Sergio, noose of a financial burden is getting tighter for Pakistan. He said that China is turning away big-ticket investments in Pakistan due to security concerns and delays in returns on investment. Sergio noted that China has not yet cleared funding for three major highway projects. He ded that this delay means cost escalation for Islamab, however, Beijing remains unmoved for past three years citing charges of blatant corruption. 

Sergio noted that it is “high time Pakistan realises Beijing is only exploiting its “all-wear” friend to furr its strategic geopolitical goals”. 

(With inputs from ANI)