Navigating Regional Connectivity via Belt and Road Initiative: Prospects and Challenges of South and Central Asian Integration amid Changing Geopolitical Dynamics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58932/MULA0068Keywords:
Regional Connectivity, Integration, Geopolitical Dynamics, BRI, CPEC, CAREC, Central Asia, South AsiaAbstract
Promoting regional connectivity has been emerging as a new form of competition among states. In the quest for regional connectivity, China has launched Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance its access to different regions by laying the land, rail, and sea routes infrastructure. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI, envisages increasing connectivity and regional integration of South Asia and its adjacent regions. Both South and Central Asia serve each other’s interests as one is energy-rich and the other is energy-deficient region. This study attempts to investigate how the BRI along with Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) is navigating and realizing the dream of regional connectivity? It further aims to explore the hurdles in the way to realize the dream of South and Central Asian connectivity and integration. However, the changing geopolitical dynamics, particularly the state of affairs in Afghanistan presents new set of challenges and affects the cause of South and Central Asian regional connectivity and integration. Afghanistan’s geographical location between Pakistan and Central Asia, its volatile security situation, and the challenges emanating from US withdrawal have serious repercussions for regional connectivity and integration. On the whole, this article is the assessment of the role of BRI/CPEC and the opportunities and challenges for South and Central Asian regional connectivity and integration. This qualitative study utilises content analysis approach. This study concludes that CPEC is not just a connectivity initiative but an enabler of Central and South Asian integration despite enormous challenges in its execution.
References
Akbar, E. (March 21, 2018). The Central Asian Republics & CPEC – Formation of a new economic block. Mélangeint’lMagazine. https://www.melangemagazine.biz/thecentral-asian-republics-cpec-formation-of-a-new-economic-block/
Asian Bank Development. (2022). MFF Central Asia regional economic cooperation corridor development investment program (RRP PAK 48404). https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/48404-002-ssa.pdf
Asian Development Bank. (October, 2017). CAREC 2030: Connecting the region for shared and sustainable development. https://www.carecprogram.org/uploads/2017-CAREC-2030.pdf.
Asian Development Bank. (January, 2020). CAREC transport strategy 2030. https://www.carecprogram.org/uploads/CAREC-Transport-Strategy-2030-1.pdf
Asian Development Bank. (November 2, 2010). Turkmenistan and Pakistan join CAREC as Central Asia partnership looks to 2020. https://www.adb.org/news/turkmenistan-and-pakistan-join-carec-central-asiapartnership-looks-2020.
Basit, A. (August 6, 2022). What the new Iran-China partnership means for the region. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/8/6/what-the-new-iran-chinapartnership-means-for-the-region.
Butt, K. M., and Butt, A. A. (2016). CPEC: An integrative line for economic cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asia (Proceeding of International Conference on Inter-Regional Connectivity: South Asia and Central Asia).
Department of Political Science, Centre of Excellence China Studies, GC University Lahore, 36-42.
Faisal. M. (2019). CPEC and regional connectivity: Navigating the South Asian politics. Strategic Studies, 37(2), 1-17.
Fischer. S., & Stanzel. A. (September 22, 2021). Afghanistan: The west fails-A win for China and Russia. The views from Beijing and Moscow. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs, https://www.swp-berlin.org/10.18449/2021C50/
Ghiasy, R., & Zhou, J. (2017). The silk road economic belt: Considering security implications and EU–China Cooperation Prospects. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 36.
Hass, E. B. (1958). The Uniting of Europe: Political, social, and economic forces, 1950–1957. Stanford University Press, California.
Hussain, I. (September 30, 2017). A pragmatic foreign policy. Dawn News. https://www.dawn.com/news/1360858/a-pragmatic-foreign-policy.
Jaffery, S. K. A. (March 21, 2018). Pakistan: a land of opportunities for Central Asian Republics (International Conference Report). National Security Division, Government of Pakistan & Center for Global & Strategic Studies, 5-6.
Jamil, A. (2017). Central Asia’s quest for warm waters: From the Caspian Sea to Gwadar Port. Strategic Studies 37(3), 92-111.
Javaid, F., & Siraj, U. (September 7, 2021b). Geo economic & geo political significance of QTTA in the context of regional connectivity. Institute of Policy Studies Islamabad, IPS Brief No. PB-2021-XVIII-SR, https://www.ips.org.pk/geo-economicand-geo-political-significance-of-qtta-in-the-context-of-regional-connectivity/
Javaid, F., & Siraj, U. (September 7, 2021a). Pakistan and Central Asia: A comprehensive analysis of regional connectivity drive, challenges and policy options. Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, IPS Brief No. PB-2021-XIX-SR,
Khan, S. A. (March 24, 2021). Regional connectivity strategy: Pakistan & Uzbekistan- A new regional commitment (Online International Conference Report). Jointly Organized by Center for Global & Strategic Studies, Islamabad and Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, 16-18.
Khan, S., Ali. S., & Urooj. S. (2019). The analysis of regional bilateral trade between Pakistan and central asian republics. Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics. 29(1), 93-106.
Khan, Z., Changgang. G., & Afzaal. M. (2020). China-Pakistan economic corridor at the cross intersection of China, Central Asia and South Asia: Opportunities for regional economic growth. The Chinese Economy. 53(2), 200-215.
Khetran, M. S. B., & Humayun, M. K. (2019). The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Gateway to Central Asia. China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies. 5(3), 455-469.
Kiani, K. (December 8, 2020). Lenders must mobilise resources to foster post-covid recovery. DAWN, https://www.dawn.com/news/1594605.
Korybko, A. (2017). Pakistan in the 21st century–perception management. NDU Journal 31(1), 229-238.
Liu, X. (August 10, 2023). China in South Asia: China’s development approach in the region. South Asian Voices. https://southasianvoices.org/china-in-south-asia-chinas-development-approach-in-the-region/
Mahmood. A. (2023). Revisiting Pakistan’s energy crisis and cpec energy projects: Prospects, challenges, and remedies for energy, environmental, and debt sustainability. Journal of Professional Research in Social Sciences, 10(2), 1-23.
Mahmood. A., Khan. I., Ali. S., & Khan. N. (2022). The Role of Chinese Regimes of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative in the Transformation of its Energy Diplomacy: Quest for Economic Sustainability. Sustainability, 14(24), 16997.
Munir, K. (March 7, 2018). Can CPEC be a boon for Central Asia? South Asian Voices, https://southasianvoices.org/cpec-boon-for-central-asia/
Ormani. B. (July 15, 2015). Afghanistan and the Silk Road: The land at the heart of world trade. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, https://unama.unmissions.org/afghanistan-and-silk-road-land-heart-world-trade-bijan-omrani
Rafiq, A. (May 25, 2022). Pakistan needs to reframe its regional connectivity push. Middle East Institute, https://www.mei.edu/publications/pakistan-needs-reframe-its-regionalconnectivity-push.
Rashid. M. I., & Sarwar. G. (2025). Infrastructure diplomacy and economic growth: impacts of regional connectivity projects on Pakistan. Pakistan Languages and Humanities Review, 9(2), 218-232.
Rasulovicha, M. B. (March 21, 2018). Commonalities in strategic objectives of Pakistan and Central Asian Republics, Pakistan: A land of opportunities for central asian republics (International Conference Report). National Security Division, Government of Pakistan & Center for Global & Strategic Studies, Islamabad, 65.
Rauf, S., & Saud, A. (2021). Belt and road initiative in Central Asia and its implications for Pakistan. NUST Journal of International Peace & Stability, 4(2), 52-67.
Raza. S. H. (2024). Prospects for regional connectivity between central and South Asia: Role of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Global Strategic Pulse: CISSS Journal of Geopolitical & Geo-Economic Studies, 1(1), 1-19.
Safi, M., & Alizada, B. (2018). Integrating Afghanistan into the belt and road initiative: Review, Analysis and Prospects. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 14, 20-39.
Saleem, A. H. (2018). Central and South Asian Energy Projects: Prospects and Challenges for Pakistan. China Pakistan Study Centre, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. https://issi.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/4-SS_Ali_Haider_Saleem_No-3_2018.pdf
Saud, A. (2018). Revivalism of Silk routes: CPEC and South Asia-Central Asia connectivity. Journal of Political Studies, 7, 99-119.
The Express Tribune. (August 1, 2021). PM's geo-economic vision making way to Central Asia. https://tribune.com.pk/story/2313373/pms-geo-economicvision-making-way-to-central-asia-through-peaceful-afghanistan.
The Nation. (November 21, 2017). CPEC relevance to Central Asia. https://nation.com.pk/21-Nov-2017/cpec-relevance-to-central-asia
Wareen. G. (September 4, 2024). Afghanistan’s strategic role in regional connectivity: Challenges and opportunities for Pakistan and Central Asia. Matrix Media. https://matrixmag.com/afghanistans-strategic-role-in-regional-connectivity-challenges-and-opportunities-for-pakistan-and-central-asia/
Warleigh-Lack, A., Robinson. N., & Rosamond. B. (2011). New Regionalism and the European Union. Dialogues, Comparisons and New Research Directions. London: Routledge, 296.
