STRENGTHENING GEO-STRATEGIC BOND OF PAKISTAN AND CHINA THROUGH GEO-ECONOMIC CONFIGURATION

An intimate relationship between Pakistan and China is not a novel phenomenon. For decades, they have been ‘all-weather’ friends – both countries enjoy enduring and deep-rooted ties. Initially, China and Pakistan were involved in a geo-strategic context, but since the end of the Cold War, their relations have increasingly become multidimensional. China emerged as an economic regional power, and over the years has been successful in generating her own sphere of influence by developing a huge export capacity along with a robust market. Pakistan had her own way with a long history of rivalry with India and then fighting the war against terror that dragged her into destitute economic conditions. India’s increasing interest and influence in the region and her growing cooperation with the US alarmed both Pakistan and China. Reciprocating, Pakistan and China agreed to build a “One Belt One Road” project; also known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. This study helps in analyzing the addition of the geo-economic aspect in the geo-strategic Sino-Pak relationship with reference to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor in the transitioning geo-political scenario.