Expansion of CPEC to Afghanistan

Context

Recently, Pakistan has discussed Taliban-led Afghanistan joining the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure project.

About China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a bilateral project between Pakistan and China.
• The corridor promotes connectivity across Pakistan with a network of highways, railways, and pipelines accompanied by energy, industrial, and other infrastructure development projects.
• The corridor aims to link the Western part of China (Xinjiang province) to the Gwadar Port in Balochistan, Pakistan via Khunjerab Pass in the Northern Parts of Pakistan.
  • The way is for China to access the Middle East and Africa from Gwadar Port, enabling China to access the Indian Ocean.
• CPEC comes under the Belt and Road Initiative. 
• The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched in 2013, which aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
• India has been severely critical of the CPEC, because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan.
• CPEC will have a positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asian Republic, and the region.
• CPEC became the primary gateway for trade between China and the Middle East and Africa.