ABSTRACT
The evolution of China’s Belt and Road Initiative has witnessed the development of trade routes and economic partnerships across many regions. One of the most central of these components has been the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which links China’s far western regions with the southern Pakistan coast. The size of the project makes it influential for the political regime trajectories in South Asia. CPEC has been envisioned as a series of infrastructure projects linking the two longstanding allies, and providing major enhancements for the Pakistani economy. Yet, since its inception, the Corridor has also produced stresses on Pakistan’s security situation, including in relations with India and domestically in Kashmir to the north and Balochistan to the south, where projects like the Gwadar port have become magnets for opposition. CPEC has also placed strains on the delicate governance structure in Islamabad, especially civil–military relations.
