South Asian Geo-Politics from the Prism of Pak-China Relations
Dr. Adam Saud Bahria University, Islamabad
Kinza Arif Independent Researcher, Islamabad
Abstract
With the emergence of non-state actors, South Asia regional significance has augmented. The dynamics of the region were already governed under the shaky foundations due to the declared nuclear states of Pakistan and India. However, growing Sino and US interests have shifted the dynamics of the region in divergent strands; where one promotes economic integration while the other calls for defensive up-gradation measures. The very element calls for the development of alliances of different natures. To focus on Pak-China relations, despite belonging to different cultures and belief systems, both states have enjoyed strong bilateral relations. They are a clear challenge to players such as the US and India.
This article is steered towards addressing the ever-changing dynamics of South Asia via providing a qualitative analysis. The ambition is to unravel the steering objectives of this alliance and address the potential challenges of the upcoming future. This research has tried to answer the following questions. What is the geopolitical importance of South Asia? Which regional and extra-regional powers have geo-political and geo-strategic interests in this region and how their interests converge and diverge with each other? The relations amidst Pakistan and China have been investigated under the realist paradigm; under the application of Balance of Threat Theory. Regional integration in the form of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) is analyzed through the lens of the Theory of Complex Interdependence. Research is based on qualitative methodology having secondary sources. It is interpretive, and critical in nature.
