China Pakistan Economic Corridor : a Gamechanger

[Sharpshooter12]

Yeah , makes sense .It would surely grab the market share /port traffic but surely it cannot replace it .

Of course no one port can replace the other, Dubai will always have the advantage of having a head start and well established facilities, also it is located in a GCC member, so it can not be replaced, but surely some chunk of its business can be taken away and that is the potential of Gawadar.

Regarding chabahar , Since india wont be allowed to use the gwadar port and has to use either chabahar or dubai . So ensuring port traffic for chabahar and dubai. Gwadar will no doubt gain , But i guess everything would depend on facilities and other useful support infrastructure will determine how far gwadar could replace dubai.

Yes Chahbahar will be taking care of much of Indian trade with Iran, may be Afghanistan and in long run Central Asia. But what about the 160 billion USD Indian trade with GCC, how will Chahbahar help that? Your total trade with Iran is 14 Billion USD, and Bandar Abbas could have handled that easily. The rail road built by Iranian towards the Afghan border can open up the Afghan trade for you, but seriously how much potential is there in that war-torn country. Dubai and Jeddah will handle much of your trade with GCC.

Now look at Gawadar, if we just take the Chinese trade with the UAE alone it is 46 Billion USD and by 2020 GCC's biggest export partner will be China. And which port do you think will handle most of this trade, of course Gawadar. So there is no comparison with Chahbahar.

Regarding your point about EEZ, man i am confused too as i said i am no expert, the convention does say that every country will be allowed to build pipelines in others EEZ.

 

[VCheng]

Keeping the roads open throughout the year is not a major issue.

As someone who lived in Colorado for 12 years, I have seen how easy it is to keep roads open during snowfall.

Typically, there may be 5 to 6 Snow Storms during the Winter Season so once you clear Snow those few times the roads are clear to be used year round.

Even if KKH is kept open 12 months a year, it is still only one two-lane highway. It will take much more than just one highway to make any appreciable impact on global trade as is being claimed.

 

[Dhanush d]

Yes Chahbahar will be taking care of much of Indian trade with Iran, may be Afghanistan and in long run Central Asia. But what about the 160 billion USD Indian trade with GCC, how will Chahbahar help that? Your total trade with Iran is 14 Billion USD, and Bandar Abbas could have handled that easily. The rail road built by Iranian towards the Afghan border can open up the Afghan trade for you, but seriously how much potential is there in that war-torn country. Dubai and Jeddah will handle much of your trade with GCC.

I think there would be a good chance that UAE might choose the chabahar port for purely business reason. Despite animosities between UAE and Iran they have substantial trade happening between .Chabahar is also creating various support infrastructure for both industries and petrochemical export which would prove an attractive alternative to gwadar .Since the geographical distance is also less a pipeline to chabahar is more economical attractive , It would make sense for them .However this is all wishful thinking on my part .

Afghanistan is an important opportunity for indian companies to establish presence because it is an untapped market ,Less competetion ,risky and rewarding at the same time. Its a gamble we are taking on in hope of 'future' strategic value.
Afghanistan is not the only country we could access through chabahar.It would allows us entry into central asian countries turkey.so hopefully india gets to increase its trade and exports to CAS markets.

 

[Meengla]

I don't know why we try to belittle Chahbahar and Dubai in relation to Gwadar? They can all exist in peace and prosperity with each other. I mean, look at the western coast of north America: Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Fran, San Diego... If anything, any eating up of 'trade' could be compensated by having a port providing auxiliary services, tourism etc.

But there is no question about the importance of Gwadar for Pakistan AND China. For Pakistan, a successful Gwadar would finally put any wet dreams about breaking away Baluchistan from Pakistan (though that was not even possible without Uncle Sam's overt involvement). For China, shortcut to west Asia and perhaps a strategic presence in the resource rich Gulf area.

PS. I am personally fascinated by cities like Dubai and Las Vegas. They are unlikely success stories, given the desert climates but are perhaps the best examples of human imagination and ingenuity. So I watch a lot of YouTube videos about these two cities. However, living their permanently is not on my radar.

 

[IR-TR]

Even if KKH is kept open 12 months a year, it is still only one two-lane highway. It will take much more than just one highway to make any appreciable impact on global trade as is being claimed.

The way I read it, this network of highways, and in some parts a single two lane highway, is a trial balloon. If it can be kept safe, and increases the use of the trade route incrementally, China will in the years after build a huge arse rail line from south to north. That will be the REAL game changer, along with pipelines etc. First, let's get the road built. You're making good progress.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

@Dhanush d

Allow me to take liberties here and give my two cents. This is my take on this entire CPEC thing. CPEC will have nomninal effect on Dubai or any other GCC port. Maybe over plus two decades of sustained growth Gwadar might make inroads into the GCC entrepot trade but for that the port has to become a world class facelity offering exceptional service to international trade like Singapore. I can't even concieve of that right now. It would be like preparing a baby to walk and parents start planning for the baby to take part in Olympic 100metres sprint.

Entrepôt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For now can we please focus on hinterland trade. Hinterland is a area that is hostage to a port. I mean the area that is behind the port that has no other alternative access to sea or it is the closest. Thus in a sense geography makes that area hostage to that port.

This natural advantage can still be wasted because while geography may confer a advantage it still needs the people living in that region to extract that advantage. It is possible that despite geographic gift the people may waste that oppurtunity. Sadly that is exactly what has been happening so far. We are underdeveloped in our part of the world because to put it bluntly we are too dumb and stupid. That is painfully apparent on these forums.

Please look the map above. To appreciate the dynamic of this subject we need to have some understanding of socio-economics and the geography of the region. Some appreciation of geopolitics is also needed. Anyway you will see two arrows on the map. The black one is Chah Bahar and the red Gwadar.

Above their you will see four coloured bubbles. Each of these represents a hinterland as follows.

Red - Greater Kashgar area in China. This includes Sinkiang Uighur with a population of 20 million. This region of China is hostage to Gwadar. We in Pakistan would have to excel in stupidity to blow this advantage. You can see the red line which shows trhe direct route to Gwadar. This is the CPEC. The Chinese are not stupid they know the only way forward for Sinkiang is to access Gwadar.

Xinjiang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

At @syed ali haider keeps on mentioning about the poor road network linking Gwadar to it's natural hinterland the Sinkiang Uighur and in particular the choke points like Khunjerab Pass. However he is wrong. CPEC is a route. It is not particular road. The point is it is upto us whether that route is good enough for mules carrying some salt or eight lane motorway and supported by duel mainline electric railways. That is for us to do.

Now there is no point in straight away building eight lane moptorway as the traffic does not warrent it. However this is a incremental process. You build some. You trade some. You build more. you trade more and it is upto you how far you can take it. It is possible for example that in 30 years time the red route I have marked is eight lane motorway in addition has high speed rail connection. That is for us to implement this project and extract success out of our geography. We can of course blow that chance if we are dumb. Time will tell although I frankly do worry.

What I expect is the Chinese will try to ( I believ they already are trying to do ) invest massively in Sinkiang Uighur and turn it into like Guangdong province on the South China seaboard which is a trading powerhouse. I expect lot more Chinese migrants will move into Xinkiang province. The Chinese will attempt to capture all Middle Eastern market and even Africa from Xinkiang. For this though the route connection to Gwadar has to be efficient and fast where products are being loaded on ships in less than 24 hours after leaving Kashgar.

So if Pakistan can full take advantage by offering efficient, safe andfast trtansportincluding quick turnaround at Gwadar port we will have won the entire hinterland marked red or greater Kashgar area. Now when this sort of thing takes off it can create all sort of other pulls and synergies. I first will cover pull. If this took off Kashgar in China would become a major dry port for exports and imports arriving from Gwadar. Since Chinese Sinkiang Uighur is also very well linked into Kazakistan ( as the Chinese here) Kashgar might also start pulling Kazakistan into it's magnet pull. The eeffect could gravitate to even Kirghiztan etc.

However all this is dependant on how fast we build quality roads along the CPEC and as traffic builds up we prevent any chokepoints by upgrading. This also requires efficient traffic police that makes sure cargo moves safely and quickly. This also requires our officials like Customs etc doing their job efficiently and clearing things with efficacy with eye on the clock ticking away. It also requires Gwadar port to have quick turn around times. This also rquires on being business minded. you don't want to start giving the Chinese lessons on morality or religion. They wont like it. Ever heard the saying you unto you me unto me? Well apply it.

If we can do this alone properly Gwadar will be a success. You notice so far I did not mention Chah Bahar. I have said hundreds of times we are not in competition with Chah Bahar. I want Chah Bahar to succeed. Go to Europe, Do you think Rotterdam and Hambourg are fighting each other. Both are 100 times bigger than Chah Bahar and Gwadar. We can either kill each by fighting over one water mellon or we can grow 100 water mellons or so many that we can't even eat them. Problem with us is we would rather fight over one than trying grow 100. That is why we got raped by Europe and look at Europe today. Look at us today.

Chah Bahar has Turkmenistan as hostage. In addition most of Tashkent greater region ( Uzbekistan, Tajikistan ) are also hostage to Chah Bahar. I want Iran to grab both because than Central Asia will get tied to the south littoral region.
As regards Afghanistan I think most of westerly Afghjanistan will go to Iran and easterly Afghanistan to Pakistan via Gwadar. This all depends on how clever we are.

If Pakistan played smart it could already has Chinese Sinikiang Uighur, it could grab Central Asia ( the blue bubble ) by also grabbing Afghanistan ( yellow bubble) however for that to happen Pakistan would have to gran afghanistan first. from the way many Pakistani's behave on PDF I don't see much chance of that happening. Is it a wonder we are poor and backward?

Iran could go for Azerbaijan and Transcaucaus area. Iran has lost those areas to West and Russia. The tragedy is had Iran not had the revolution ( although I understand why that hapened ) by now Iran would have been as developed like France. Than all those countries on the northen fringe like Azerbaijhan, Turkmenistan and Central Asia would have been running south. right now they don't want to look south. They see the Ayatollah's in Iran and tussle with West. The Afghans in total state of war and chaotic Pakistan with it's people going around preaching and moralizing everybody.

Still it is upto us. If Pakistan and Iran can get togather than can grab the entire northern littoral region.

* On a side note I don't worrry about India. Pakistani members should gave up this fear of India becauise the truth is Indian influence in this region is nominal. Most of it is hot air and boast given off by Indian's. The real champ in this region is China. Just check out the trasing statistics and then you will see.For every dollar that the Indians are going to spend in this region the Chinese will spend tenfold more. What is more the Chinese have only began concentrating on their western borders now.

Central Asia will come under the Chinese shadow. There is no other way. Read this article and look at the facts. If the Indians think they can match China in Central Asia they are dreaming. If they think they can match China through Chah Bahar they must be smoking strong stuff. India would lose to the Chinese in a level playing field. In a situation where they don't even have direct access and they dream of this long convoluted around about route they don't stand a chance. The only they are are left with lot of talk. big talk. Certainly the numbers are on Chinas side.

Will All Roads in Central Asia Eventually Lead to China? | The Diplomat

** That is why I support a more mature policy toward Iran and Afghanistan. We have to look at the bigger picture. We can't afford to get stuck in the past or parochial politics of this region and be narrow minded.

@AndrewJin @Serpentine @Horus @Daneshmand @WAJsal

 

[SQ8]

** That is why I support a more mature policy toward Iran and Afghanistan. We have to look at the bigger picture. We can't afford to get stuck in the past or parochial politics of this region and be narrow minded.

Some of those policies have to do with the need to offer this corridor through a different route. Essentially, that jut that lies between Pakistan and Tajikistan and is part of Afghanistan is the big issue and perhaps one of the main motivators why regardless of its entirety; Afghanistan is a target for continued interference and change because it holds the link that Pakistan wants to central Asia.

 

[Spectre]

Central Asia will come under the Chinese shadow. There is no other way. Read this article and look at the facts. If the Indians think they can match China in Central Asia they are dreaming. If they think they can match China through Chah Bahar they must be smoking strong stuff. India would lose to the Chinese in a level playing field. In a situation where they don't even have direct access and they dream of this long convoluted around about route they don't stand a chance. The only they are are left with lot of talk. big talk. Certainly the numbers are on Chinas side.

First off all I would like to offer my appreciation for a well researched and reasoned post.

Second I would like to correct your assumptions regarding India, we are not looking to beat/match China - that would make as much sense as Pakistan trying to over take India. What we are trying to do is to spend our resources judiciously as we don't have the raw economic muscle that China has.

If India screws up and looses its investment then the effect on our economy is much bigger than the corresponding case with China, margin of error is very small hence where possible we go for soft diplomacy projects like schools, hospitals, science and tech collaboration instead of cap heavy projects like Railways, Airports, Ports, Highways where Chinese can out bit us any day.

That said when strategically necessary we do spend big like in Iran, S. Asia and Afghanistan.

You have to realize that not all countries like to put their eggs in one basket and hence would like hedge their bets thus opening a space for India, in addition many regions are investment hungry enough to absorb both Chinese and Indian money. These are the regions where you see Indian money going.

The way you have tried to belittle India without understanding its investment strategy is in sharp contrast to rest of your excellent post based on facts and logic.

Regards

 

[Dhanush d]

@Dhanush d

Allow me to take liberties here and give my two cents. This is my take on this entire CPEC thing. CPEC will have nomninal effect on Dubai or any other GCC port. Maybe over plus two decades of sustained growth Gwadar might make inroads into the GCC entrepot trade but for that the port has to become a world class facelity offering exceptional service to international trade like Singapore. I can't even concieve of that right now. It would be like preparing a baby to walk and parents start planning for the baby to take part in Olympic 100metres sprint.

Entrepôt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For now can we please focus on hinterland trade. Hinterland is a area that is hostage to a port. I mean the area that is behind the port that has no other alternative access to sea or it is the closest. Thus in a sense geography makes that area hostage to that port.

This natural advantage can still be wasted because while geography may confer a advantage it still needs the people living in that region to extract that advantage. It is possible that despite geographic gift the people may waste that oppurtunity. Sadly that is exactly what has been happening so far. We are underdeveloped in our part of the world because to put it bluntly we are too dumb and stupid. That is painfully apparent on these forums.

Please look the map above. To appreciate the dynamic of this subject we need to have some understanding of socio-economics and the geography of the region. Some appreciation of geopolitics is also needed. Anyway you will see two arrows on the map. The black one is Chah Bahar and the red Gwadar.

Above their you will see four coloured bubbles. Each of these represents a hinterland as follows.

Red - Greater Kashgar area in China. This includes Sinkiang Uighur with a population of 20 million. This region of China is hostage to Gwadar. We in Pakistan would have to excel in stupidity to blow this advantage. You can see the red line which shows trhe direct route to Gwadar. This is the CPEC. The Chinese are not stupid they know the only way forward for Sinkiang is to access Gwadar.

Xinjiang - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

At @syed ali haider keeps on mentioning about the poor road network linking Gwadar to it's natural hinterland the Sinkiang Uighur and in particular the choke points like Khunjerab Pass. However he is wrong. CPEC is a route. It is not particular road. The point is it is upto us whether that route is good enough for mules carrying some salt or eight lane motorway and supported by duel mainline electric railways. That is for us to do.

Now there is no point in straight away building eight lane moptorway as the traffic does not warrent it. However this is a incremental process. You build some. You trade some. You build more. you trade more and it is upto you how far you can take it. It is possible for example that in 30 years time the red route I have marked is eight lane motorway in addition has high speed rail connection. That is for us to implement this project and extract success out of our geography. We can of course blow that chance if we are dumb. Time will tell although I frankly do worry.

What I expect is the Chinese will try to ( I believ they already are trying to do ) invest massively in Sinkiang Uighur and turn it into like Guangdong province on the South China seaboard which is a trading powerhouse. I expect lot more Chinese migrants will move into Xinkiang province. The Chinese will attempt to capture all Middle Eastern market and even Africa from Xinkiang. For this though the route connection to Gwadar has to be efficient and fast where products are being loaded on ships in less than 24 hours after leaving Kashgar.

So if Pakistan can full take advantage by offering efficient, safe andfast trtansportincluding quick turnaround at Gwadar port we will have won the entire hinterland marked red or greater Kashgar area. Now when this sort of thing takes off it can create all sort of other pulls and synergies. I first will cover pull. If this took off Kashgar in China would become a major dry port for exports and imports arriving from Gwadar. Since Chinese Sinkiang Uighur is also very well linked into Kazakistan ( as the Chinese here) Kashgar might also start pulling Kazakistan into it's magnet pull. The eeffect could gravitate to even Kirghiztan etc.

However all this is dependant on how fast we build quality roads along the CPEC and as traffic builds up we prevent any chokepoints by upgrading. This also requires efficient traffic police that makes sure cargo moves safely and quickly. This also requires our officials like Customs etc doing their job efficiently and clearing things with efficacy with eye on the clock ticking away. It also requires Gwadar port to have quick turn around times. This also rquires on being business minded. you don't want to start giving the Chinese lessons on morality or religion. They wont like it. Ever heard the saying you unto you me unto me? Well apply it.

If we can do this alone properly Gwadar will be a success. You notice so far I did not mention Chah Bahar. I have said hundreds of times we are not in competition with Chah Bahar. I want Chah Bahar to succeed. Go to Europe, Do you think Rotterdam and Hambourg are fighting each other. Both are 100 times bigger than Chah Bahar and Gwadar. We can either kill each by fighting over one water mellon or we can grow 100 water mellons or so many that we can't even eat them. Problem with us is we would rather fight over one than trying grow 100. That is why we got raped by Europe and look at Europe today. Look at us today.

Chah Bahar has Turkmenistan as hostage. In addition most of Tashkent greater region ( Uzbekistan, Tajikistan ) are also hostage to Chah Bahar. I want Iran to grab both because than Central Asia will get tied to the south littoral region.
As regards Afghanistan I think most of westerly Afghjanistan will go to Iran and easterly Afghanistan to Pakistan via Gwadar. This all depends on how clever we are.

If Pakistan played smart it could already has Chinese Sinikiang Uighur, it could grab Central Asia ( the blue bubble ) by also grabbing Afghanistan ( yellow bubble) however for that to happen Pakistan would have to gran afghanistan first. from the way many Pakistani's behave on PDF I don't see much chance of that happening. Is it a wonder we are poor and backward?

Iran could go for Azerbaijan and Transcaucaus area. Iran has lost those areas to West and Russia. The tragedy is had Iran not had the revolution ( although I understand why that hapened ) by now Iran would have been as developed like France. Than all those countries on the northen fringe like Azerbaijhan, Turkmenistan and Central Asia would have been running south. right now they don't want to look south. They see the Ayatollah's in Iran and tussle with West. The Afghans in total state of war and chaotic Pakistan with it's people going around preaching and moralizing everybody.

Still it is upto us. If Pakistan and Iran can get togather than can grab the entire northern littoral region.

* On a side note I don't worrry about India. Pakistani members should gave up this fear of India becauise the truth is Indian influence in this region is nominal. Most of it is hot air and boast given off by Indian's. The real champ in this region is China. Just check out the trasing statistics and then you will see.For every dollar that the Indians are going to spend in this region the Chinese will spend tenfold more. What is more the Chinese have only began concentrating on their western borders now.

Central Asia will come under the Chinese shadow. There is no other way. Read this article and look at the facts. If the Indians think they can match China in Central Asia they are dreaming. If they think they can match China through Chah Bahar they must be smoking strong stuff. India would lose to the Chinese in a level playing field. In a situation where they don't even have direct access and they dream of this long convoluted around about route they don't stand a chance. The only they are are left with lot of talk. big talk. Certainly the numbers are on Chinas side.

Will All Roads in Central Asia Eventually Lead to China? | The Diplomat

** That is why I support a more mature policy toward Iran and Afghanistan. We have to look at the bigger picture. We can't afford to get stuck in the past or parochial politics of this region and be narrow minded.

@AndrewJin @Serpentine @Horus @Daneshmand @WAJsal

Thanks for the wonderfull post .One of the things i love about here . Helped me know more about this project. I think there are some points i would like to understand more about.

1)The impact of CPEC on your local industries .Will it be helpful through ToT or Joint Ventures or willl the competetion be hurtfull to the pakistani industry at large. I ask this because in india we still do not have a FTA with them but still have a significant trade deficit with them. Indian industries are under pressure from chinese even with many anti-dumping laws in place. Chinese industries have matured a lot , and their ability to provide both cheap and quality goods is frightening. I have not seen any sort of discussion on this here(as far as i know).Are you guys worried or believe in total liberlisation where any good company which provides the best ,deserves it.I Would like to know your views on this.

2) Since gwadar would primarily serve chinese kashgar/xingjiang region atleast in the initial period. Then would the chinese pay for access to this route or is it free for both pakistan and china as it is your corridor. If there is no route fee for chinese,How would revenue generation take place?

3) From our perspective ,india has mostly given up on pakistan for CAS access. Chabahar is an alternative route for us You could argue the shortest route is through pakistan and indeed may be cheaper.But you must also understand that route/access does not exist and hence any sort of access is better than not having one . So in our view it is a good achievement.

As @Spectre says chabahar was not about competing china for trade.This is india looking for opportunities and aspires to be better. Any sort of trade we are able to do in some other country will always be helpful for our growth and raising our competetiveness in global context.In the end it will all add up for the better .

4) Chest thumping/Boasting will be done by every countryman. Most indians acknowledge chinese is superior power.

5)If any point in the future ,China warms up to india and says pakistan must provide access to india to promote trade .Would pakistan allow it ? ( Since chinese would have become a major strategic partner , i am assuming they would have the pull).This is a what if scenario , you can choose to ignore if you want.

Thanks again for the post

 

[locker]

The way @Atanz tried to belittle in the India was just wonderful but you can expect it from pakistanis.
After all China is their father so they will surely do cheer leading for them.
First of all let me tell you this CPEC is a 15+ years plus programmed so sit for 15 years.
India wanted other port in order to counter chinas entry in Indian ocean and to keep a check on china so chabhar was vital for India.
Your CPEC is said to feed and export goods to China's xinjiang province.
And let me tell you no one will dump Dubai port which is been working for many years and come to gwadar so easily unless and until someone want to export something to Pakistan because cpec is just a road connecting gwadar and nothing else.
Actually you missed a great game played by India By innovating CHABHAR India will not only gain access to Afghanistan but also to CA and also can keep check to chinas actions.
Let me tell you India is making
INTERNATIONAL NORTH SOUTH TRADE CORRIDOR (INSTC) which is a road and rail link to Russia from IRAN. It will cut all nations in CA and reach RUSSIA which was talked and was agreed by CA nations when Modi visited CA nations.
Why INSTC is a game changer?
It is said to cut time required for transport of goods to CA and also to Russia.
So companies which want to export their products will want their products to be competitive in costs in CA and Russia in terms of cost. So they wi be more than Happy to halt on chabhar after Dubai.
Also for your view that India can't invest more than China then let me tell you.
India in 10 years will be 10 trillion doa economy so India wi automatically have much more funds to invest than today so keep your rhetoric to yourself.
Also to your surprise let me tell you the 75$ fund which was agreed between India and UAE, the half of the fund UAE promised to fund India's infrastructure projects like INSTC and many more.
So their goes your lack of fundssssssssssss.
@Spectre ,@Dhanush d
India is going to sign FTA with EEU.
Also CPEC will destroy their local industry and that's the sad part for them.
But let me tell you the trade deficit between India and China is because Chinese are protectionist and they haven't allowed the passage for Indian industries in which they are weak that's why you see PM Modi and sushima swaraj mAde it clear on their trip to China that you will have to open up if you want to increase trade.
The current deficit today stands at 30 billion dollar which is not much and can be changed once we become the factory of the world which will hurt chinese imports to India because once companies start to make their products which we import from China we wi cut their imports which wi result in decline if TD so wait for some years.
The big boy.

DMIC is coming.

 

[Dhanush d]

The way @Atanz tried to belittle in the India was just wonderful but you can expect it from pakistanis.
After all China is their father so they will surely do cheer leading for them.
First of all let me tell you this CPEC is a 15+ years plus programmed so sit for 15 years.
India wanted other port in order to counter chinas entry in Indian ocean and to keep a check on china so chabhar was vital for India.
Your CPEC is said to feed and export goods to China's xinjiang province.
And let me tell you no one will dump Dubai port which is been working for many years and come to gwadar so easily unless and until someone want to export something to Pakistan because cpec is just a road connecting gwadar and nothing else.
Actually you missed a great game played by India By innovating CHABHAR India will not only gain access to Afghanistan but also to CA and also can keep check to chinas actions.
Let me tell you India is making
INTERNATIONAL NORTH SOUTH TRADE CORRIDOR (INSTC) which is a road and rail link to Russia from IRAN. It will cut all nations in CA and reach RUSSIA which was talked and was agreed by CA nations when Modi visited CA nations.
Why INSTC is a game changer?
It is said to cut time required for transport of goods to CA and also to Russia.
So companies which want to export their products will want their products to be competitive in costs in CA and Russia in terms of cost. So they wi be more than Happy to halt on chabhar after Dubai.
Also for your view that India can't invest more than China then let me tell you.
India in 10 years will be 10 trillion doa economy so India wi automatically have much more funds to invest than today so keep your rhetoric to yourself.
Also to your surprise let me tell you the 75$ fund which was agreed between India and UAE, the half of the fund UAE promised to fund India's infrastructure projects like INSTC and many more.
So their goes your lack of fundssssssssssss.
@Spectre ,@Dhanush d
India is going to sign FTA with EEU.
Also CPEC will destroy their local industry and that's the sad part for them.
But let me tell you the trade deficit between India and China is because Chinese are protectionist and they haven't allowed the passage for Indian industries in which they are weak that's why you see PM Modi and sushima swaraj mAde it clear on their trip to China that you will have to open up if you want to increase trade.
The current deficit today stands at 30 billion dollar which is not much and can be changed once we become the factory of the world which will hurt chinese imports to India because once companies start to make their products which we import from China we wi cut their imports which wi result in decline if TD so wait for some years.
The big boy.

DMIC is coming.

You came up with good points ,But if you can edit this post with a more moderate tone and less insulting ,it would lead to a helpfull discussion.Be the better man, After all none of us are in positions of power where we can change foreign policy. I say this because your argument would get us nowhere ,just leads to unnecessary and useless arguments from both sides. Hope you dont take this the wrong way man (this is not the way to present an argument).

P.S Dont label me as pakistani or traitor or both