‘India’s aggression in Ladakh threatens G-B security’

Webinar speakers say escalation in tensions will be a big mistake by India

PESHAWAR:

India’s aggressive moves in the Ladakh region and its standoff with China is a matter which impacts the security of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region and in turn the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

This was expressed by speakers during a webinar on “Exploring China and India Relations in Global, Regional and bilateral Perspectives in 2020”. The webinar had been organised by the China Study Centre at the University of Peshawar (UoP).

Dr Minhas Majeed from UoP’s Department of International Relations said that the US is trying to contain China and hence there is a convergence of interests on this point between the US and India.

She said the standoff between China and India also helped divert the attention of the international community to the Kashmir issue once again.

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies President Farhat Asif highlighted the relations between China and India in a regional perspective. She said that recent developments in the region have once again highlighted the importance of resolving the Kashmir dispute.

China Study Centre Director Dr Zahid Anwar pointed out that both China and India are two important countries in the continent and amongst the most populous nations in the world. There is a need to objectively analyse the nature of the relationship between these two countries.

Keeping in view the unprecedented changes taking place globally and regionally, it is high time to discuss China-India relationship in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC, trade wars, indo-pacific initiative, QUAD, SCO and BRICS.

Sichuan University of Science and Engineering’s Political Science Department Associate Professor Dr Ghulam Ali said that great wisdom is needed to prevent a conflict between China and India in the long run.

KPBIT CEO Hasan Daud said that it will be a momentous mistake by India to escalate tensions in the Himalayas. Even though New Delhi is not part of BRI, it is part of AAIB. Moreover, with China and India both members of BRICS, they are witnessing the rise of Asia and both will not want to lose out on this chance.

IIUI International Relations and Politics Department Chairperson Dr Manzoor Afridi said that India and China cannot ignore each other.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2020.