The inclusion of new development projects in the CPEC by China and Pakistan was the leading story this week. China has blocked India’s move to add the head of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) to a UN Security Council blacklist. Pakistan, China and Russia held the third round of tripartite consultations on Afghan conflict in Moscow. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the 340 megawatt Chashma-III nuclear power plant. Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, has said that $30 billion projects had been implemented under the CPEC.
CPEC Expanded:
During the sixth meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of CPEC, China and Pakistan have agreed to include some new development projects in the multi-billion dollar venture. These projects are: Karachi Circular Railways, Keti Bandar project and Special Economic Zone in Sindh.[1] The JCC also approved to make three more infrastructure projects part of the CPEC[2] thus bringing China’s total contribution to the corridor-related road projects to Rs.1.025 trillion so far.[3] These road projects fall on the western route and include 280 kilometer Raikot- Thakot road (Rs8 billion), 210km Yarik- Zhob dual carriageway (Rs80 billion) and 110km Basima- Khuzdar road (Rs19.76 billion). It is noteworthy that this JCC meeting was attended by the Chief Minsters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. This development in itself will boost the provincial consensus over CPEC projects that has been missing for so long.
India’s Bid Blocked:
China has blocked India’s bid to add the head of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), Masood Azhar, to a UN Security Council blacklist of groups linked to al Qaeda.[4] India has accused JeM leader of orchestrating several attacks in India including the Pathankot attack in January last. However Pakistan has found no evidence linking him to attacks in India. China had put the hold on move initially in April. Meanwhile, India maintains that it will continue to push forward “through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice.”[5] As India has ramped up its efforts against Pakistan at international forums, China has backed Islamabad against New Delhi’s assertive diplomacy. In October, when India called Pakistan as “mother-ship of terrorism”, Beijing said that “[W]e also oppose the linking of terrorism to any specific country.”[6]
Talks on Afghanistan:
Pakistan, China and Russia held the third round of tripartite consultations on Afghan conflict, especially the rise of the threat of Islamic State. Two major decisions were made in the talks. First, the three countries invited Afghanistan to become part of these consultations. Second, they vowed “to continue their efforts towards further facilitating the Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.”[7] In this regard, Russia and China showed willingness to remove Afghan individuals from the UN sanctions list to help kick-start talks between Kabul and Taliban. Earlier this week, Afghanistan had strongly resented the tripartite talks for the reason that Kabul was not included in the process.[8] It would be too early to predict the outcomes of this initiative but the coming together of these regional actors indicates increasing understanding and coordination between them on regional issues.
Chashma-III Inaugurated:
PM Nawaz Sharif inaugurated power production from 340 megawatt Chashma-III nuclear power plant near Mianwali. The power project is a joint collaboration between the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).[9] PM noted that “the project is reflective of closer cooperation between Pakistan and China in diverse fields, including science and technology.[10] He said that the power plant will add 600 MW to the national grid and help PAEC achieve its overall target of 8,000 MW. China already has built Chashma-I and Chashma-II nuclear power plants. Pakistan has an acute energy shortage with the net power deficit going beyond 6,000 MW.[11]
Miscellaneous:
Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal, has said that $30 billion projects had been implemented under the CPEC.[12] President Mamnoon Hussain said that no change had been made in the western route of CPEC.[13]
This report is compiled and written by Abdur Rehman Shah, Research Associate at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), and edited by Zeeshan Salahuddin, Senior Research Fellow at CRSS, Islamabad.
[1] Ali, Imtiaz. (2016, December 29). Chinese authorities approve inclusion of 3 Sindh projects in CPEC. Retrieved December 30, 2016, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1305179/chinese-authorities-approve-inclusion-of-3-sindh-projects-in-cpec
[2] Rana, Shahbaz. (2016, December 30). Pakistan’s water security made part of the CPEC framework. Retrieved December 30, 2016, from http://tribune.com.pk/story/1279029/pakistans-water-security-made-part-cpec-framework/
[3] Raza, Syed Irfan. (2016, December 27). China to finance three more road projects under CPEC. Retrieved December 30, 2016, http://www.dawn.com/news/1304619/china-to-finance-three-more-road-projects-under-cpec
[4]Reuters. (2016, December 30). China blocks India’s request for U.N. to blacklist militant chief. Retrieved January 01, 2017, from http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-pakistan-un-china-idUSKBN14J18V
[5] TNN. (2016, December 30). China at it yet again, shields Masood Azhar at UN – Times of India. Retrieved January 01, 2017, from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/china-at-it-yet-again-shields-masood-azhar-at-un/articleshow/56264908.cms
[6] Reuters. (2016, October 17). China defends Pakistan after Modi’s ‘mother-ship of terrorism’ comment. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://tribune.com.pk/story/1200928/china-defends-pakistan-modis-mother-ship-terrorism-comment/
[7] Syed, B. S. (2016). Pakistan, China, Russia agree to expand talks on Afghanistan. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1304931/pakistan-china-russia-agree-to-expand-talks-on-afghanistan
[8] Faramarz, Samim. (2016, December 26). MoFA Voices Displeasure Over Upcoming Trilateral Meeting. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/mofa-voices-displeasure-over-upcoming-trilateral-meeting
[9] Dawn.com. (2016). Pakistan’s fourth nuclear power plant, built with China’s assistance, goes online. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1304960/pakistans-fourth-nuclear-power-plant-built-with-chinas-assistance-goes-online
[10] Radio Pakistan. (2016, December 28). PM terms Chashma-III Nuclear Power Plant reflective of Pakistan-China close cooperation. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.radio.gov.pk/28-Dec-2016/pm-to-inaugurate-chashma-nuclear-power-plant-iii-today
[11] Khan, A. F. (2016). Power shortfall beyond 6,000MW. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1259756
[12] APP. (2016, December 28). $30bn CPEC projects implemented: minister. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1304945
[13] Shahid, S. (2016). No change in western route of CPEC, says president. Retrieved January 02, 2017, from http://www.dawn.com/news/1304940