Full Length Research China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Impact on Regional Stability of South Asia Showkat Ahmad* and Arif Hussain Malik** *Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, University of Kashmir. Email: showkatrashid.pol@gmail.com **Research Scholar, Department of Political Science, University of Kashmir. Email: malikarifku@gmail.com Accepted 15 October 2017 China-Pakistan agrees on the project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a framework for regional connectivity and economic cooperation. India did not join the CPEC on the ground that it passes through territory which is dispute between India-Pakistan. Pakistan through CPEC project will gain high economic growth which will help it, in second-nuclear strike capability because Pakistan has first-use- of –nuclear weapons against India. So, Pakistan can achieve balance of power vis-à-vis India in South Asia. This situation will deter India from taking any action against Pakistan in presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).Other South Asian countries can incline to China in respect of economic development purposes. In this context, India should join the CPEC project for sake of reaching an understanding for the settlement of their hot issues through negotiations. If, they resolve their issues, Asia and South Asia will flourish in economic sphere and pave way for active economic integrations. But, the India-US close strategic relations may hinder India- China-Pakistan relations because recently, the US has revealed new strategy for South Asia especially against Afghanistan and Pakistan. US put responsibility on India in respect to play a larger role in providing economic and development assistance to the war-torn Afghanistan. From historical standpoint, Pakistan has been looked as non-NATO ally to US and India as a friend not an ally. Right now, the US is beholding, India as an ally and Pakistan as the problem. Therefore, this is a new strategic shift in South Asia and can or may create problems for the regional stability of South Asia. Keywords: India, China, Pakistan, South Asia, US, CPEC. Cite this article as Ahmad S, Malik AH (2017). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Impact on Regional Stability of South Asia. Int. J. Polit. Sci. Develop. 5(6) 192-202 INTRODUCTION Background The incapacity of India-China to stabilize their ties is the prediction given by the first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in1950.When Nehru suggested the then home minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel that bad ties or enmity with China should be avoided at any rate; otherwise the situation would be exploited not by Pakistan but also by the superpowers. Nehru’s prediction came true with 1962 war. In the aftermath, India’s China policy had to contend with the China-Pakistan-US alliance. 1 The 1962 border war which could have been shunned but finally resulted in India-China enmity ; an enmity exploited by Pakistan and US as predicted by 1 Rajen Harshe and K.M.Seethi, “Engaging with the World: Critical Reflections on India’s Foreign Policy” (ed.) Orient Blackswan, (New Delhi: 2009), p.154. International Journal of Political Science and Development Vol. 5(6), pp. 192-202, October 2017 DOI: 10.14662/IJPSD2017.033 Copy©right 2017 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article ISSN: 2360-784X http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/IJPSD/Index.html