CPEC: AN ULTIMATE OPTION FOR NTS CHALLENGES

Abstract

This research paper summarises the findings of the project funded by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan under Start-Up Research Grand Program. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a landmark initiative between the two brotherly nations. CPEC is also the most important part of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which reactivates the old Silk Rout, and rebuilds connectivity between different regions of the world. South Asian region is full of nontraditional security (NTS) challenges. This study aims to discuss the integration of domestic resources and a collective mechanism for security cooperation on NTS challenges. The paper explores out the challenges covering fields including terrorism, transnational crimes; energy security; maritime security and rescue, and environmental degradation. It also analyses the features of NTS challenges, which are transnational and relevant to China and Pakistan. Finally, responding to NTS challenges, paper suggests a collective framework between both (China & Pakistan) and NTS challenges may become the significant part of security concern element that may pose severe threats to smooth and sound manner of BRI strategy in general and CPEC in particular.