A New Road, An Old Fear Somewhere in the mountains of Ladakh, an Indian soldier looks westward. The wind is cold, the land unforgiving but his thoughts are on something hotter than the midday sun: a highway. Not just any highway, but one that begins in the far reaches of China’s Xinjiang province, snakes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and might soon wind its way into Afghanistan.
They call it CPEC the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. And for those in New Delhi’s war rooms and border bunkers, its next move feels like the deep breath before a storm.
The Big Picture, Painted with Steel and Cement Let’s start at the beginning. When China and Pakistan shook hands on CPEC in 2015, it was billed as a dream: better roads, more energy, a boost to trade. Billions of dollars poured in. Concrete flew. Ports like Gwadar, once sleepy fishing towns, became symbols of ambition.
For China, CPEC is more than a shortcut to the Arabian Sea. It’s a masterstroke—a way to reduce reliance on dangerous sea lanes, secure energy routes, and quietly place military-grade infrastructure near India’s doorstep.
For Pakistan, it was hope on loan. Jobs, railways, power plants, highways. But that hope has come with a heavy price tag. And now, there’s a new partner in sight.
Hello, Kabul: Why Afghanistan Matters Now
In the dusty streets of Kabul, change is in the air. Since the Taliban returned in 2021, Afghanistan has been walking a tightrope longing for global legitimacy, desperate for investment, and sitting on a mountain of untapped minerals that the world’s powers quietly covet.
Enter China.
It isn’t just building highways or ports. It’s playing a long game eying the copper, the lithium, the rare earths beneath Afghan soil. By inviting Afghanistan into CPEC, China is extending its economic embrace deeper into the heart of Asia.
The Taliban? They’ve welcomed it. With hopes of jobs, roads, and recognition, they’ve opened the doors wide. And India? India is watching. Closely.
The India-Afghanistan Bond: A Relationship Worth Remembering
Let’s take a moment to rewind.
India and Afghanistan go way back—through culture, shared history, and even heartbreak. Indian engineers built schools there. Doctors helped in rural clinics. The Zaranj-Delaram highway, which connected Afghanistan to Iran, was an Indian gift.
No guns. No demands. Just soft power.
That’s what made India a trusted friend in a troubled land. But post-2021, that presence shrank. And into the vacuum stepped Beijing—with its cranes, contracts, and conditions.
Why India’s Heart is Racing

Kabul/New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Thursday evening spoke with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, appreciating the ruling regime's condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and outright dismissal of attempts being made to create distrust between Kabul and New Delhi.

So why does this matter so much to India?
1. Surrounded by Shadows Imagine this: Chinese-backed projects to your north (Tibet), to your west (Pakistan), and now creeping into Afghanistan. It’s not paranoia it’s strategic encirclement. India, once the center of regional trade, risks becoming an observer in its own neighborhood.
And don’t forget: CPEC runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India considers its own. Every brick laid there is a challenge to India’s sovereignty.
2. Trade Routes in Jeopardy India’s long-term vision was always to reach Central Asia through Iran’s Chabahar Port, bypassing hostile Pakistan. But if CPEC ropes in Afghanistan, it could sideline India’s trade dreams and give China the keys to regional commerce.
Think of it as a road race. India built its car. But China just bulldozed a shortcut.
3. Security Nightmares The corridor doesn’t just carry goods. It carries influence, soldiers, even surveillance. And as China and Pakistan cozy up in Taliban territory, the risk of terror sanctuaries dressed up as infrastructure projects becomes all too real.
India has already lost precious lives to cross-border terror. Could this embolden those networks again?
4. The Global Chessboard India has been building bridges—with QUAD nations, with the West, with friendly Asian powers. But CPEC’s extension into Afghanistan feels like a countermove. One that says: “We have our own club. And it’s right next to your house.”
But Should India Panic? Not necessarily.
This isn’t checkmate. Not yet. Here’s why:
A. Afghanistan is Not Easy to Tame Ask the British. Ask the Soviets. Ask the Americans. Afghanistan doesn’t bend easily. Its terrain is brutal. Its politics are a minefield. China might promise prosperity—but delivering it on Afghan soil is another story.
B. The Taliban Can Be Fickle They may welcome Chinese investment today. But tomorrow? Who knows. Beijing’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims has drawn criticism even among hardliners. One wrong move, and the honeymoon could sour fast.
India still has emotional capital in Afghanistan. It can still return quietly, respectfully, and with purpose.
C. Debt Isn’t Just a Number Pakistan is already drowning in CPEC loans. If Afghanistan goes down the same path, it might wake up too late—realizing it traded freedom for finance. India, by contrast, never asked for anything in return for its help.
That difference matters. And it’s remembered.
So, What Can India Do Now? Let’s talk about hope and strategy, not just fear.
1. Reconnect with Afghans—Heart First, Handshake Later Send food. Scholarships. Medical aid. Rebuild schools. India’s strength has always been people-to-people ties. Start small. Be consistent. Be present.
2. Supercharge Chabahar and Regional Links Make Chabahar Port more than a plan on paper. Connect it with railways, roads, trade fairs. Bring in Iran, Central Asia, and Russia. Offer them an alternative to China’s hard handshake.
3. Be the Diplomatic Adult Raise concerns, yes—but diplomatically. In UN forums, G20 meetings, regional summits, India should spotlight the lack of transparency in CPEC and the risk of Chinese overreach.
Be the country that offers partnership, not puppetry.
4. Strengthen Home First Build roads in Arunachal. Modernize airstrips in Ladakh. Develop trade hubs in Kashmir. A strong, connected, confident India is the best answer to any encirclement.
It’s Not Just About Borders

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist killings of innocent tourists at Pahalgam and a similar response from President Putin of Russia, no doubt strengthened India’s hands in its successful attempt to create a long-term deterrence against Pakistan.

The story of CPEC’s next move isn’t just about geopolitics. It’s about people.
It’s about Afghan children hoping their new school won’t be a casualty of someone else’s agenda. It’s about Indian entrepreneurs wondering if their trade route will survive. It’s about soldiers on frozen borders, standing guard against an idea, not just an enemy.
China is building roads. But India can still build relationships.
And in the long run, relationships—built on respect, trust, and shared dreams—may prove stronger than concrete.

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