Dr. Istiaq Ahmad is a current Director of School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He is a well known academic professional, political analyst and the author of several books, including Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: An Afghan Trail from Jihad to Terrorism; The Nuclear Danger: Going Down to Minimum Deterrence; India and Pakistan: Charting a Path to Peace; and Nuclear Non-Proliferation. He has also contributed various research publications, news articles, and reports that were published both at national and international newspapers and journals.
Q: There is complex security interdependence among South Asian states, especially India and Pakistan. Previously it was confined to strategic rivalry but now it is moving towards commercial and economic rivalry. How do you see this?
Ishtiaq Ahmad: It’s a great transformation that is applicable to relationships all over South Asia, particularly India-Pakistan. Competition and cooperation among states, and even great power intervention in the region is now shifting from geo-politics to geo-economics. This is a healthy trend, I look at it in a very positive light. The former entails a tendency towards conflict while the latter towards cooperation. If countries are competing with each other for purely economic interests, there is always a probability of this competition turning into cooperation.
As far as Gwadar and Chabahar are concerned, I don’t see much of a difference between the two. They are both economic projects and, as such, there is great computability between the two.
Q: In an environment as hostile as South Asia’s, can two strategic ports function without feeding the security dilemmas of the respective states? Or will each seek to disrupt progress of the other?
Ishtiaq Ahmad: This is a great opportunity for Pakistan, for India, China, South Asia, Central Asia and even the world. Gwadar, Chabahar, CPECC, TAPI and CASA 1000 are all compatible projects with more areas of convergence than divergence. For the first time in history, all great powers – global and regional – have their interests converging in the same areas. The challenge is to harness this opportunity. Pakistan can overcome this challenge through ensuring internal and external stability, economic development, and an end to regional isolation.
Q: Is the cooperation you speak of possible without resolving the Kashmir issue?
Ishtiaq Ahmad: Unless you arrive at a viable resolution of disputes like the Kashmir dispute, matters will not stabilize. More than Pakistan, it is India that has a pragmatic interest in the resolution of Kashmir dispute. It is essential in order to avail the opening that has recently emerged in the region.
Q: Gwadar port is believed to be a game changer. Do you think it has the potential to bring a significant change for Pakistan and, by extension, South Asia?
Ishtiaq Ahmad: That depends upon the state and the leadership. It is a blessing in disguise, better than having nothing. Perhaps we did not even deserve it. But calling it a game-changer and a fate-changer is blowing it out of proportion. It is a slow-moving, long-term project. Gwadar can also have its costs. China is, after all, a great power. Its investment in Gwadar is based on pragmatic interests. China is undergoing economic stagnation. It needs to reach out to other regions and CPEC is just one of its projects, though it is the greatest.
It is also up to us to convince neighboring states, particularly India, that this is in their interest. Economic partnership with Pakistan is extremely important for India’s regional and global ambitions. So is the resolution of by standing conflicts. We should reach out through proactive diplomacy and regain the confidence and interest of states, especially our neighbors.
Video Credits: Nida Abbassi
Write-up Credits: Naima Shahab
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