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India-China shape soon to Afghan project

Senior officials from India and China will meet soon to discuss the broad contours of the understanding reached between Prime…

India-China shape soon to Afghan project

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Photo: AFP/file)

Senior officials from India and China will meet soon to discuss the broad contours of the understanding reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at their informal summit in Wuhan for undertaking a joint development project in Afghanistan, informed sources said here on Monday.

The two countries could also participate in a railway project connecting Afghanistan with Iran, China and the Central Asian republics of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, sources added.

However, they made it clear that this would in no way mean change in India’s position on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which New Delhi has opposed on the ground that its flagship project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), runs through the Indian territory in Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan.

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India and China have long discussed possible cooperation in third countries, and in 2010, considered working together on infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, which did not materialise apparently because Beijing was unwilling to annoy its ‘all-weather’ friend Pakistan.

The Pakistani establishment, particularly the army, has been vehemently opposed to India playing any role in Afghanistan and has from time to time targeted Indian assets and workforce in the battle-scarred nation.

Chinese diplomatic sources, meanwhile, also confirmed that there was in-depth discussion and agreement between the leaders of the two countries in Wuhan on taking forward regional projects in third-party countries.

“There could be more China-India projects in the region in the pipeline, some of which will involve a third party,” sources added. In this connection, they also drew attention to the proposed Bangladesh-India-China-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor.

Chinese sources played down differences between India and China on BRI, saying Beijing was not unduly concerned by India not expressing its support explicitly for it as long as the two nations shared common interests on connectivity. “When it comes to connectivity our impression is China and India do not have any principled disagreements,” sources added.

While India has made huge investments in Afghanistan to help the country stand on its feet, China acted almost like a spectator throughout the course of 2000s with very limited engagement in the Afghan political dynamics. It is only during the past few years that Beijing has become active in the Afghan imbroglio.

Sources explained that China has emerged as one of the most important contemporary political-economic actors globally and more so in the South Asian region because of its ever-expanding economic initiatives and engagement in the region and beyond. ‘’It is only natural that China and India, being key players in the region, should cooperate rather than compete in Afghanistan in the larger interest of the region.’’

Sources also pointed out that an unstable Afghanistan could be a serious cause of concern for China that shares nearly 75 km border with the embattled country.

A stable Afghanistan can contribute to Beijing’s regional connectivity and economic integration agenda. A failed Afghanistan will pose significant security threats for China, particularly in its Xinjiang region, which is affected by a separatist movement.

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