Agenda of CPEC is to dominate the region, speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry

Agenda of CPEC is to dominate the region

Speech of Dr Shabir Choudhry in a Conference arranged by Jammu and Kashmir International Peoples Alliance in Brussels on 23 October 2018.

Mr Chairman, friends and colleagues Salam to all of you.

I am a citizen of former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir. My motherland is forcibly divided and occupied by India, Pakistan and China.

Neighbours should be nice and friendly to each other. However, not everyone is lucky to have good neighbours. Some neighbours can be called, ‘neighbours from hell’. These neighbours are arrogant, selfish, unfriendly, greedy, cruel, unkind, hostile and possessive.

Because my motherland is forcibly divided, this clearly means, our neighbours are not good neighbours. Area of Jammu and Kashmir where I come from is occupied by Pakistan. All the problems we have in Pakistani occupied Jammu and Kashmir are because of our Muslim neighbour known as Pakistan.

Pakistan not only occupied us, but caused division of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, hence all the suffering on both sides of the divide since 1947. Also, Pakistan has systematically distorted our history, exploited our resources, and divided us on tribal, regional and sectarian lines.

In my opinion, Pakistan is responsible for our miseries and suffering, and yet claims to be our friend, well-wisher and a big brother. Our relationship with our neighbours should be determined in accordance with their treatment to us. If their policies are against us; and they want to continue to oppress us, and loot and plunder our resources, how can we call them friends and well - wishers?

Mr Chairman

How cynical that we are not allowed to call ourselves occupied people; or expose Pakistani injustice and oppression. Those who dare to expose Pakistan or complain about Pakistani injustice and oppression are called unpatriotic, anti-Pakistan, traitors and Indian agents.

Those who criticise my political activities, include citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. Their contention is that I should not write or speak about wrong doings in Pakistan, as that is their internal matter. I should not write about Pakistani wrong doings in so called Azad Kashmir, or Pakistani wrong doings in Gilgit Baltistan, as that diverts attention away from what is going on in the Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir. They also say I should not write or speak against wrong policies of the establishment and speak against those who advance agenda of the establishment.

These critics think we citizens of Jammu and Kashmir should avoid interfering in internal matters of Pakistan; even though Pakistan interferes and controls every aspect our lives in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistani occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from that, what goes on in Pakistan ultimately affects us as well.  For example, if wrong policies result in economic problems in Pakistan, it will affect us more than people of Pakistan. Very often we don’t get electricity, even though our total requirement is 350 Megawatt; and currently we produce more than 2000 Megawaat. If price of a gas cylinder goes up from 1300 rupees to 1900 rupees, we will surely pay more than 2000 rupees. Same is the case for other items.

Electricity is generated by using our water, and we have to pay more per unit than what people of Pakistan pay. They generously exploit our natural resources, and we don’t get any compensation. If we complain, we are branded as traitors.

The property belonging to State of Jammu and Kashmir which is situated in Pakistan, is used and sold by Pakistan, as it pleases them, and we can’t even talk about this injustice, because foot soldiers of the establishment will oppose and accuse us.

Whether we accept it or not, bitter fact is we are a colony of Pakistan; and Pakistan is doing everything what a colonial power does. They have occupied us, divided us; and loot and plunder our resources. Like all colonial powers they have local collaborators who have joined them; and these people are presented as our leaders. Primary task of these so-called leaders is to protect interests of Pakistan and keep control over us.

Mr Chairman

Two occupiers of Jammu and Kashmir, namely China and Pakistan colluded to strengthen their hold on territory of Jammu and Kashmir they occupy.

Despite that, collaborators and pro Pakistan citizens of Jammu and Kashmir urge us not to oppose the CPEC, because in their view, this mega project will make Pakistan strong and prosperous.

These people, infatuated with love of Pakistan, fail to understand that the CPEC goes through a disputed territory of Gilgit Baltistan; and the CPEC will not only change disputed nature of this territory, but also weaken us and bolster Pakistani and Chinese occupation in Gilgit Baltistan and in so called Azad Kashmir.

Growing number of Pakistanis now agree that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is not transparent, and is planned to benefit China more than Pakistan. The CPEC could be disastrous for Pakistan. Many even call it a debt trap, which can land Pakistan in hot water. Pakistani economy will not be able to pay loan instalments associated with the CPEC projects; and Pakistan may end up leasing its territory to China, like Sri Lanka and some other countries have done.

Apart from that, many international experts strongly believe that the CPEC

is not an economic corridor, as its strategic and defence agenda has ramifications not only for Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia, but also for the many countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe and beyond?

1.   How can I not oppose the CPEC when I know that it will endanger interests of people of Gilgit Baltistan?

2.   How can I remain quite on the CPEC when I know that it can enable Pakistan to change legal status of Gilgit Baltistan?

3.   How can I not criticise the CPEC when I know China and Pakistan will rule Gilgit Baltistan with iron fist; and loot and plunder our resources?

4.   How can I support the CPEC when I know it is like East India Company; and its hidden agenda is to dominate and colonise the region?

5.   How can I express happiness on the CPEC when I know that injustice and oppression on people of Gilgit Baltistan will increase as a direct result of the CPEC?

6.   How can I become a spectator knowing full well that number of Pakistani and Chinese armies, and their respective secret agencies in Gilgit Baltistan have increased; and they will harass, intimidate and oppress my fellow citizens?

7.   How can I exhibit satisfaction on the CPEC when I know that it is not designed to educate, help or empower men, women and children of Gilgit Baltistan and so called Azad Kashmir?

8.   How can I claim to be human being, and moreover, a human rights defender, when I choose to look the other way when my fellow citizens are deprived of fundamental rights; and even poor people of Balochistan, FATA and other areas are also deprived of basic rights, and treated like sub human beings?

Mr Chairman

I can add more things to the list. I have completed my second book on the CPEC. Title and sub title of the new book are as follows:

Economic growth or a Debt Trap for Pakistan –

CPEC can be a mega disaster for Pakistan.

I have done extensive research for this book, and more I researched, and more I felt that the CPEC is an essential part of China’s strategic, defence and economic agenda, aim of which is to dominate and influence this region and other regions of the world.

My fear is Pakistan is being used as a stepping stone to advance the mega project of Beijing with multiple and complementary objectives. Despite being armed with nuclear weapons; Pakistan is only a small player in new round of the ‘Great Game’, which is being contested between America and China for control of financial and economic markets.

China and America are great powers with a long history, strong culture, and stamina to confront crises and harmonise them to suit their objectives.

Pakistan is not in the same league. My fear is that in this contest between giants, Pakistan may become ‘the fall guy’, because the country has a volatile history with full of crises, setbacks, chaos and hammering. Above all, Pakistan has a weak economy and rulers lack vision and experience required to tackle difficult problems.

If Pakistan suffers because of their wrong policies, we will suffer too, because they will squeeze us, just like the British did with India during the Second World War. Even if they don’t listen, still it is appropriate that we caution Pakistan of emerging problems and threats.

In my view, the CPEC will:

·      Increase Pakistan’s dependence on China, and Pakistan may become a client state;

·      Sharpen tension and rivalry between the provinces, as all provinces want a bigger share from the CPEC; and as it is, only Punjab has the larger share of the pie;

·      Add to frustration and alienation of the suffering people of Balochistan and other regions;

·      Escalate tension and armed resistance against the CPEC in Balochistan, and may provide stimulus to frustrated people of other provinces and people in Gilgit Baltistan;

·      Encourage other countries and armed groups which perceive Pakistan as an enemy, to take advantage of the situation, and commit acts of violence.

Frustration and anger of people of Balochistan was summed up by Professor Naela Qadri Baloch in a seminar in Geneva on 20 September 2018, she said: CPEC is not China Pakistan Economic Corridor, it is China Pakistan Execution Corridor.

Mr Chairman

Pakistan attacked us, divided us and controls every aspect of our lives; and they have treated us as a colonised people. Are we to remain quiet and swallow every bitter pill that comes our way from Islamabad just because those who rule Pakistan have Muslim names?

Are we not to oppose wrong and oppressive policies of Pakistan because it tarnishes Pakistan’s image, and diverts attention away from the events taking place in the Kashmir Valley?

I am no one to tell people of that region what to do. It is for them to decide how to deal with a proxy war engineered by the experts of the Pakistani establishment, and subsequent chaos and human rights abuses going on in the Valley of Kashmir?

My heart bleeds when I see suffering people in Kashmir and elsewhere. I wish they get peace and prosperity that they can enjoy their fundamental rights. However, my task is to educate people that they can differentiate between a friend and a foe; and between freedom and slavery. They need to be told that you can only enjoy freedom, if you respect freedom of others.

We need to learn to treat Pakistan with the same medicine; and do to them what they have done to us.

Mr Chair, thank you for your patience.