The strategic positioning of the recently concluded forty-eighthOrganization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summitlink has beensignificantly different from its predecessors. It was meant to enhance thestrategic relations between China and Muslim world in a time of globalgeopolitical uncertainty and shifting political alliances. It canpotentially usher in a new era of economic partnerships, politicalconnectivity, and conflict resolution in a region marred by foreign-fundedwars which have killed millions of people and ravaged entire nationseconomically and socially.
Pakistan straddles the meeting point between the Muslim world and China,two of the greatest human civilizations. Although the country has acheckered political history and again is in the midst of a deep politicalcrisislink,it does not change the macro geostrategic dynamics. Before discussing whatPakistan stands to gain out of strategic connectivity between China andOIC, we need to understand two key factors. Firstly, China has put billionslink ofdollars into the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the mostextensive leg of its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China isrelying heavily on the successful completion of its CPEC projects whichwould significantly impact the overall realization of its BRI dream.
Secondly, the role of Pakistan’s military establishment can not beoveremphasizedlink,which has always positioned itself as a guardian of the country’s strategicrelations with the United Stateslink,the Middle East, China, and the rest of the world. Although it may soundpolitically dystopic, it brings continuity and steady progress in some ofthe most strategic initiatives from the perspective of Pakistan’s nationalinterest. The most important of them has been the nuclear programlink, which reached fruition and hasbeen safeguarded at all costs despite the severe political upheaval thecountry endured many times during its development.
We now come to what Pakistan has to strategically gain by augmenting therelations between China and OIC. Pakistan and China have a common nemesis,Indialink.India has invested heavily in its relations with the Muslim world fromAfghanistan to the Middle East through its financial muscle, culturaloutreach, and the millions of Indians who work in oil-rich Gulf countries.Although Pakistan has deep roots with Gulf countries through its militaryrelations and the Pakistani diaspora, it has been outweighed by India onseveral fronts due to multiple factors. The joint Pakistan-China push intothe Muslim world can change these dynamics. With China investing heavily indifferent parts of the Muslim world and Pakistan being its key strategicpartner and conduit to them, this can create deep long-term penetration ofthe Middle East and beyondlink.
Geographically, Pakistan is the bridge between China and the Muslim world.Pakistan is the starting point of a vast, contiguous Muslim landmass thatstretches up to Morocco and includes the geostrategic regions of CentralAsia, Near East, Middle East, North and Central Africa. This gives Chinauninterrupted access to some of the most vital countries for its BRIproject, i.e., mineral-rich Afghanistan, the gateway to Central Asia whichneeds to be rebuiltlinkpost-Americanwithdrawal. Another important country is Oman, where China has heavilyinvested in the strategic port of Duqmlink in the Arabian Sea. It createsa long shipping corridor from South Asia to East Africa dotted byChinese-controlled ports linked to the road network of CPEC, which connectsWestern China to the rest of the world.
Once the BRI projects are completed and CPEC becomes more pivotal, Pakistancould have tremendous economic advantages as a trade corridor, a principalshipping port, and from increased foreign investment. Once Pakistan’seconomy integrates with various markets, it will automatically carrygreater leverage at multilateral economic forums and overcome its perpetualcurrent account deficit crisis, which has been its bane for an extendedperiod of time, both financially and diplomatically.
The next strategic advantage that Pakistan can reap is cultural outreach.Culturally speaking, Pakistan has a lot in common with Arab, Iranian andCentral Asian nations other than religion. But, while India has investedheavilylinkincreating deep cultural roots in these countries, mainly through its filmindustry, Pakistan has failed to make any substantial progress. With peacefinally reaching Afghanistan and new trade routes opening up on multiplefronts, Pakistan can create deep cultural roots in the regional countrieswith the right strategy and investment. In addition to enhancing trade andpolitical ties, it can generate massive tourism opportunities and generatemuch-needed foreign exchange revenues. As tourism increases in thepost-Covid world and business flourishes due to regional connectivity,Pakistan will also be able to effectively communicate its viewpoint on manycritical issues like Kashmir and Afghanistan across the region throughpublic opinion building and diplomatic channels.
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Another very critical element of the China-OIC relationship is conflictresolution. Many countries in the region, from Afghanistan to North andCentral Africa, including countries like Yemen and Syria, have beencompletely destroyed by foreign-funded wars and are grappling with some ofthe worst humanitarian crises in recent history. Many of these countriescan potentially be part of the BRI project. One of the fundamental reasonsthese conflicts have been raging with no end in sight is foreigninterference and no regional country strong enough to carry out aresolution. Chinalinkcanfill in this gap which would provide it with deep inroads into thesecountries and gain political, economic, and cultural influence. This canchange the long-term dynamics of the Great Game as it intensifies after theRussian invasion of Ukraine, rekindling the ghastly memories of the ColdWar era. Sustainable peace requires sustainable development. It is thefirst time after the fall of communism that a new superpower is enteringthe game to create a global logistics network and a vibrant market for itsproducts. To secure its trillions of dollars worth of trade and investment,China will put all possible efforts to bring peacelinkandpolitical stability to the region. This, in turn, creates a win-winsituation for everyone.
All of the above creates a historic, once-in-a-generation opportunity forPakistan, which has long suffered economically due to politicalinstability, lack of strategic economic planning, and global arm-twistingfrom the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Action Task Force.Although Pakistani policymakers are currently embroiled in their ownpolitical adventures, they cannot afford to miss these opportunities. Ifthey fail to act swiftly and strategically, other regional competitorscould capitalize on this moment to their detriment.
*Noaman Abdul Majid is an Economist and Geopolitical Analyst based in theMiddle East and Pakistan. He can be contacted at **namajid@thewixeman.com**. He tweets @NoamanAMaji.*
*Source:linklink*