China and Pakistan enjoy long and strong bilateral relations. Ties have been strengthened with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through large-scale infrastructure, industrial and security cooperation and investments. CPEC is envisioned to improve the life of people in Pakistan and China, to bring prosperity, security and peace, through greater connectivity and economic development. But CPEC implementation has been slow, hampered not least by conflict and security concerns.
According to the Pakistan Security Report 2024, the country experienced over 520 terrorist attacks in 2024, carried out by militants and national insurgent groups. This marks a 70% increase from the previous year.
How does China’s engagement in Pakistan impact on conflict dynamics, domestically and geopolitically? How is China perceived by local stakeholders in Pakistan? What are the security implications in Pakistan, and how do - or could - Pakistan and China deal with them? In this seminar analysts from the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) will share insights from their work in Pakistan and its surrounding neighbours.
The seminar is part of the research project Developmental Peace? Perceptions of China’s Engagement in Pakistan and Afghanistan (AsiaPeace).
Speakers
- Muhammad Amir Rana, President of the Pak Institute for Peace Studies
- Safdar Hussain, Research Analyst at the Pak Institute for Peace Studies
- Hazrat Bilal Project Coordinator and Data Engineer at Pak Institute for Peace Studies
- Kaja Borchgrevink, Senior Researcher at PRIO and lead of the AsiaPeace research project
