Iran’s inclusion in CPEC to make project a great success: Pak analyst

Islamabad, Oct 29, IRNA – A senior Pakistani analyst strongly believes if Iran joins China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) mega project it would make the corridor a great success in terms of regional trade and connectivity. In an interview with IRNA, Rashid Ahmad Khan, former Chairman of department of international relations and political science at University of Sargodha said that the CPEC would not only serve China and Pakistan, but the entire region. “I believe that if Iran joins the CPEC it could bring regional, economic and political stability in the whole region,” Ahmad Khan said. China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) is a mega project between the two countries under which China will invest $46 billion in Pakistan. The economic corridor is about 3,000 kilometers long consisting of highways, railways and pipelines and will connect China’s Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s Gwadar port. The project is crucial for both countries. Iran had shown willingness to become part of the CPEC in a recent meeting between President Hassan Rouhani and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York. According to Ahmad Khan, Iran's interest in the CPEC is a very important development for the future of the project, for the future integration of the region and for Iran-Pakistan relations. The analyst added that Iran and the whole Persian Gulf region have been the hub of ancient trade routes. “You know the ancient Silk Road passed through Iran and also the route of the maritime Silk Road passed through the Persian Gulf and one branch of the ancient Silk Road which passed though the areas now in Pakistan also passed through Iran,” he said. Noting that Iran has been historically on the cross roads of very important ancient trade routes, Ahmad Khan said, “So I think Iran’s joining of CPEC would be the revival of that ancient route.” “Iran for the last three or four decades has been interested to be associated with the process of regional integration in south Asia,” the expert said. He added that Iran is an energy rich country and its energy recourses can be of a great help for the energy hungry countries of the region. He noted that the CPEC project has allocated 35 billion dollars out of 46 billion dollars to energy projects so it is very important that to make the project successful Iran would join the mega project. “Definitely Iran could become a bridge between Pakistan, Europe and Middle East through CPEC,” he said. Ahmad Khan viewed that Pakistani leaders must seek Iran's support to bring peace in Afghanistan which is a major route for reaching Central Asia like Iran. He said Iran can play a vital role in bringing peace in Afghanistan and Western Asia. “As peace-seeking country, Iran has never committed any aggression against any country of the world. So, inclusion of such a nation to CPEC would be of great advantage,” he noted. The expert added that Iran is a country which is very flexible and very far sighted in its relations with its own neighbors and neighboring countries of Pakistan. Therefore, he stressed, that the association of Iran would be very beneficial not only for projects like CPEC but for seeking regional peace. 1378/IRNA