India Opposes CPEC: Pak-China Economic Corridor Illegal, India Not Accepting Invitation to Third Party

India today again strongly opposed the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Ministry of External Affairs clearly stated that it has been strongly opposed to the so-called CPEC project. It is being built on Indian land illegally occupied by Pakistan. It is illegal, and cannot be allowed.

In this project under construction between China and Pakistan, both countries have now invited third parties to participate. India has again raised a strong objection to this. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Tuesday strongly said that the CPEC project is illegal. He said that we have seen reports encouraging the proposed participation of third countries in so-called CPEC projects. Any such action by either party shall be deemed to be a direct violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. India will treat it as illegal.

China-Pakistan invite the third party

The Ministry of External Affairs made this statement because of reports that Pakistan and China have invited third countries to participate in the multi-billion dollar CPEC project. The move was taken last week at the third meeting of the CPEC's Joint Working Group (JWG) on International Cooperation and Coordination (JWG-ICC). This joint meeting of Pakistan and China on CPEC was held virtually last week. CPEC is launched in 2015 to enhance connectivity between Pakistan and China by building roads, energy projects, and industrial areas in Pakistan.

Preparations to extend the corridor to Afghanistan

China and Pakistan are now considering the possibility of extending this famous economic corridor to Afghanistan. Pakistan and China have made a strategy in this regard. Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood met China's special envoy on Afghanistan Yu Xiaodong in this regard.

The two sides exchanged views on the political and security situation in Afghanistan, humanitarian aid to Afghanistan by Pakistan and China, and other matters of mutual interest, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In the context of regional connectivity, the two sides exchanged views on the expansion of CPEC in Afghanistan to promote economic development and prosperity, the statement said.

Zabiullah Mujahid expressed his desire

Following the occupation of Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Islamic group Zabiullah Mujahid said they wished to join the CPEC. This desire comes at a time when dozens of terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan are targeting Arab CPEC projects.

China's eyes on Afghanistan's resources

Indeed, China's eyes are on Afghanistan's billion-dollar natural resources. Not only this, China now wants to reach other countries of Central Asia through Afghanistan. According to the Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune, China's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Yui Xiaoyong and Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood held a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad.

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