Although security is a pre-requisite for developing a road network, yet infrastructure development itself is very important to defeat insurgency. Multiple ethnic factions and traditional decentralisation of power leaves a country that is not predisposed to one centralised democratic system. For Pakistan, the fundamental concern about Kabul joining CPEC is the effectiveness of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and a much needed security risk mitigation strategy, which is missing. The tribal structure needs to be given importance and the old Afghan “National Covenant” may be revived. The Afghan government needs to take measures to develop its industrial base that could easily integrate into the corridor structure once Afghanistan joins the belt-road initiative.

Source: The Express Tribune February 19, 2018 04:18 UTC