Pakistan-Central Asia Connectivity through CPEC Evaluating Opportunities and Geopolitical Challenges

Abstract

This has given rise to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as one of the strategic initiatives under the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which seeks to strengthen connectivity between Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics (CARs). This paper traces this path to explore opportunities and challenges along CPEC as a facilitator of regional integration and its geopolitical consequences, in terms of trade and infrastructure investments. The study underscores the opportunities for landlocked Central Asian countries by positioning themselves in the Gwadar Port and the Arabian Sea region, in terms of lowering the cost of transit, increased regional markets and improved energy cooperation initiatives, including CASA-1000 and TAPI. At the same time the study shows how serious security concerns are, how unstable the political climate is, how weak the U.S. and Pakistani governments are in comparison to their neighbor India, how geo-politically competitive the area is between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and the United States. The conclusions highlight the need to ensure good governance, collaboration regions and sustainable security arrangements to fully realize the potential of CPEC for regional connectivity and economic integration in the longer term.