Scholars, experts call CPEC an oppressive design of Pakistan and China

Updated:6 years, 9 months ago

Paris (France), Feb 06 (ANI): Scholars, former diplomats, human rights activists and journalists from various parts of the world congregated in Paris to discuss the implications of multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)- the flagship project of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While discussing the CPEC's legal, geo-strategic, economic and environmental impacts, the participants argued that acquiring control of trade, inevitably translates into governmental influence. Experts also underlined the massive destruction and displacement being carried out for the project in the resource-rich province of Balochistan. They have also termed CPEC illegal. The indigenous people of Balochistan and illegally occupied Gilgit Baltistan from where it traverses have been stripped away of their natural resources. Activists have long blamed China and Pakistan, who together aim to change the demography of Balochistan and have been committing atrocities against innocent Baloch people. They claim the CPEC project has only brought death and destruction for the local people instead of economic opportunities. Those who have opposed CPEC have been subject to violent crackdowns and torture under the pretext of anti-terrorism laws.