Transformation from KKH to CPEC
Pakistan and China enjoyed very friendly and cooperative relations since inception of both countries. These relations have been consistently strengthened by both governments in many domains, including diplomatic and political, economic, commerce and trade, defence and security, and educational and cultural cooperation. China – Pakistan friendship, proverbially, known as ‘higher than Himalayas, deeper than oceans, and sweeter than honey has been transformed into a ‘strategic partnership’. Construction of Karakorum Highway (KKH) that links Islamabad with Kashgar in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China was a landmark achievement by China and Pakistan.
Pakistan gained its independence from the British Colonial rule in August 1947, whereas Peoples Republic of China (PRC) came into being, after successful revolution, in October 1949. Pakistan was among few countries to recognize the government of PRC at an earlier times and diplomatic relations were established in May 1951. For almost two decades China was denied its rightful representation at the United Nations. However, the PRC was admitted as a member of the UN in October 1971 when the UN General Assembly adopted its Resolution 2758. Resultantly, the permanent seat of the UN Security Council was also handed over to PRC. Pakistan played a very important role in seeking restoration of PRC’s legitimate and rightful representative of Chinese people at the UN.
In 1963, Pakistan and China concluded the boundary agreement between both countries through peaceful negotiations. It was a land mark achievement in improvement of bilateral relations, though India had raised some undue objections to such settlement. Pakistan and China accorded high priority to establish communication links between two friendly and brotherly countries. Therefore, in 1964. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) started its flights to Beijing, becoming the first non-communist country airline to fly from Beijing.
In order to promote people to people contacts and to enhance cooperation in various field, especially to increase bilateral trade and commerce, it was imperative to establish road and rail link between China and Pakistan. Notwithstanding the significance of such vital project, the challenges were too high and risky. The terrain joining both countries is very difficult, comprising highest mountain ranges, snow covered peaks and passes, and high altitude desert. But the determination of both the nations to surpass these challenges was more strong and robust. Therefore, it was decided to explore the possibility and prospects of connecting China and Pakistan through these high mountain of Karakorum ranges.
The construction of KKH was started by Pakistani and Chinese engineers in 1966. It was inaugurated in 1978 and later on further extended till 1982. It is believed to be the highest paved highway in the world that passes through or near mountain ranges of Himalaya, Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Pamir. Prior to construction of KKH, Northern Areas of Pakistan were virtually isolated from rest of the country. The only link was Indus Valley Road (IVR) via Shangla Pass and Besham, which was just a fair weather jeep-able track. The challenges of constructing KKH would include negotiating the most difficult terrain in the world with a highest peaks.
From 1966 onwards, the project of constructing a new road was jointly undertaken by military engineers from China and Pakistan. It was agreed that the road from Kashgar to Khunjrab Pass would be constructed by Chinese Government and the portion from Khunjrab to Mansehra in Pakistan would be constructed by Pakistan with technical assistance extended by China. In February 1971, the first phase was completed and the road was opened to the traffic. On August 9, 1971, a Chinese trade caravan carrying tones of merchandise, loaded in twelve trucks, entered Pakistan and drove right up to Gilgit. In 1974, the Chinese engineers and workers started construction of the Phase – II with approximately twelve thousand Pakistanis supporting them. As a result of joint effort, the KKH, a construction miracle, that has been called ‘the Silk Road’ as well, was completed and opened in 1978. It runs approximately 1,300 km, covering around 450 km from Kashgar, to Khunjrab Pass, located at an elevation of 4.693m (15,397ft) above the sea level and around 850 km from Khunjrab Pass to Hasan Abdal in Pakistan. The highway in Pakistan is called as National Highway 35 (N-35), which eventually joins the Grand Trunk Road, N-5 and Motorway M-11. On the Chinese side, it is called China – Pakistan Friendship Road / China National Highway 314 (G-314).
With establishing the road link between China and Pakistan, through KKH, bilateral trade between both countries has increased manifold. In 1995, both countries signed ‘Agreement for Traffic in Transit’ and ‘Preferential Trade Agreement’ was signed in 2003. Chinese President Hu Jintao visit to Pakistan in 2006 and ‘Free Trade Agreement’ was signed by China and Pakistan during the same year. During all high level diplomatic visits by Chinese leaders to Pakistan and Pakistani leaders to China, both countries have always cherished establishment of road link between both countries through KKH that was constructed at cost great sacrifice of precious human lives by both sides.
President Xi Jinping introduced his vision for global connectivity in 2013. The ‘One Belt, One Road (OBOR)’, later renamed as ‘Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)’ comprise two main components: the overland ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ and the ‘21st-Century Maritime Silk Road’. The BRI envisages to construct six land route economic corridors. ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’, linking Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) with Gwadar sea-port in Pakistan at Arabian Sea / Indian Ocean, is considered as flagship project of BRI. CPEC project was agreed in July 2013 and during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan in 2015, both countries conclude more than 50 agreements. These projects included development of infrastructure, construction of energy projects and establishment of special economic export and industrial zones. The initial cost of all such projects was estimated around 46 billion US Dollars, which was later on enhanced to around 65 billion US dollars, after adding few more projects of vital importance.
Phase 1 projects of CPEC have been complete. During recent visit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister to China, in November 2022, both countries have decide to launch the Phase 2 projects. China and Pakistan has also agreed to build a high speed rail link between both countries. Therefore, construction of CPEC is not only a landmark achievement, which would help to boost bilateral trade manifold, it is, indeed, a game changer for promoting multi directional cooperation among China, Central and South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. In addition to enhancing commerce and trade, it has unique strategic importance as well. The CPEC provides a highly sustainable alternate route of land communication to China in case of any blocked caused at Strait of Malacca during future regional or global conflict. The Gwadar Port, in addition to one of the largest natural deep sea port is likely to become a regional petrochemical industrial hub as well. China and Saudi Arabia have agreed to jointly build a large refinery, which would fulfil the oil requirement of many countries. Hence, it is very rightly said that ‘China –Pakistan Iron Friendship’, has been transformed into ‘Strategic Partnership’, after construction of CPEC.
