The one of the most dynamic region in the world is south Asia, but it is also a fact that its economic conditions are also very poor. Only 5 percent of trade activities occurred from south Asia with association of southeast nations (ASEAN). Due to the similarities in historical values and cultural norms, south Asian region has huge capabilities for integration in terms of economics affairs but the mutual disputes and issues of internal matters among countries have caused limits on it. One of the major factors to this situation is the unhealthy relations between Pakistan and India. South Asia is the home of 570 million or 44 percent of world’s poor, by creating mutual trust the economic status of the said region could be raised which will definitely help in raising standard of life of these poor’s.
Currently south Asia is facing some major challenges in shape of Kashmir and Afghanistan issue. The relations became worst between Pakistan and India after the abrogation of article 370 and 35-A. After the abrogation of these articles, demographic and administrative status of Kashmir has been changed. There is shatter down for last 5 or 6 month in Kashmir. Pakistan has cleared it that Kashmir is nuclear flash point and we will not step back from our stance. The issue of Kashmir is badly disturbing the overall environment of the south Asia.
America is fighting a long war in Afghanistan. America and her allies entered Afghanistan 18 years ago but still they are there without fruitful results. Taliban has upper hand in the war but they are also tired of the long war. Therefore both Taliban and America are engaged with one another for last two three years to reach on solution and to bring peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan also wants an immediate solution to the said issue because peace in Afghanistan is extremely vital for the development and prosperity of Pakistan. On 3rd of January 2020, on a telephonic talk, army chief Qamar Bajwa also cleared this to US Secretary of foreign affairs that Pakistan wants stability in the region particularly in Afghanistan.
Recent escalation of US regarding Iran has also raised tensions in the region. An attack by American drone has killed top most Iranian military personal Qasim Solaimani in Bughdad. After these tensions in the Middle East has raised which will definitely effect the trade activities in Gawadar and Chabahar ports. Hundreds of American’s ships are passing through Strait of Harmuz which is near strait to the binary ports and Iran can retaliate against US in the said strait that will definitely lead to crises in the region.
Besides these contemporary issues, the cooperation in term of economics affairs is slightly increasing in South Asia. For last 8 to 10 years, India has been investing heavily in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. She has several trade agreements with these states and launched gigantic progects in Afghanistan in the area of infrastructural development. Under the umbrella of Belt road initiative (BRI) , China has investing a huge amount of money in CPEC. The CPEC worths more than 60 billion US dollars, which make a connection of Gawadar with Kashghar with a network of roads and railways.
The two binary ports, Gawadar and Chabahar give huge chances for connectivity in the region. If the states of south Asia draw a clear line between geo politics and geo-economics then both ports can work together and can provide a valuable platform for development of the whole region. The US with other allied states has made the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) with the participation of Japan and India as key players in the region. On contrary, China has launched Belt road initiative (BRI) in which China Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) is the major project and Gawadar is playing the role of linchpin. India and America has created a nuclear deal back in 2008. After that deal America not only wants to secure her interests in the region through India, but it also wants to see India as the raising power to counter China. This policy of America is named as Asia Pacific policy.
In the above discussed scenarios, Gawadar and Chabahar are currently working in hands of two opposition parties. Iran has a very strong relationship with Pakistan in terms of religious and cultural values, but currently these relations became complex due to geo politics and changing regional political dynamics. However if someone look to world powers and their planning for south Asia there is a clear diversity. China and America are two economic rivals. According to offensive realism, when a state becomes secure in terms of defence, it goes to dominate the region and tries to make her hegemony in a region. The America and China is acting like typical offensive realists but there way of doings are different. Both are trying to influence south Asia and peruse maximum interests in the said region. The western block leading by USA has based on zero sum game on the other side eastern approach headed by China is of win-win case. There is a strong public beliefs in Pakistan that China polices are based on non-interference. They have nothing to do in domestic affairs of other states. On the contrary, the relationships of USA and Pakistan is just like marriage of unconveniance. Both neither can live happily nor can leave each other. Besides this, there is a positive reportation of China. It is considered that the nature of BRI is 180 degree different from US’s TPP. The BRI is based on trade, economic partnerships, regional and cultural connectivity. On the other side it is believed that western based TPP is short lived and one sided interests based alliance of USA.
CPEC as mentioned earlier, is the one of the most major projects of BRI that will not only enhance the economic conditions of Pakistan but will also play a vital role in connecting regional states in terms of trade with each other’s. After the initiation of CPEC, it has attracted many states due to her rich economic opportunities and several states are keen to become part of it. Gawadar has become a part of CPEC; therefore it has great importance than Chabahar. Chabahar port is also in week position as compared to Gawadar due to sanctions on Iran. But the most important factor is that, Iran has shown her desires to join CPEC. The president of Iran Hassan Rohani said before 71th session of general assembly that Iran is ready to join CPEC. Apart from this the ambassador of Iran while taking in Lahore said, that Iran has offered her investment of capabilities in CPEC. He further added that, in this regard Iran is ready to make roads and tracks from Chabahar to Gawadar for collective trade and commerce and make the binary ports as sister ports rather than rival ports.
Keeping the above mentioned facts in mind, one can noticed that Iran is a soverign state, and it has a history of harsh and tense relations with west and especially with America. And at present due to sanctions of America and United nations security council, Iran is struggling badly. By keeping this in mind, Iran will not let Chabahar to be used for aims and objectives of others, that might affect the relations of Iran with China or Pakistan. Similarly Pakistani and Iranian officials have mentioned it time to time that there focus is on the mutual cooperation of both ports. Both states, through their statements show that they want prosperity and stability in the region. According to them, there is no element of competition between Gawadar and Chabahar ports and they are complementing one another.
