Hafiz Muhammad Salman
A Media Corridor Between Pakistan and Central Asian States: A Case Study of CPEC.
Short Glimpses from the Past
The historical perspective describes that in the past all these countries have
close ties in the different form of trade-related projects with each other. With
the addition of CPEC and development of CPEC it has become stronger in an
economic perspective.
The project of CPEC get started during the era of Gen.Pervaiz Musharraf and this
idea has gained a warm welcomed from all other countries due to its multiple
socio-economic benefits and outcomes for all the entire countries who are
associated in this project. The year of 2013 Chinese gives more emphasis on the
development of this project and they have visited Pakistan to do the required
actions in a practical manner. In the visit both the countries have mutually
agreed on this project and they have signed the project which is considered as
a historical movement. After that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also visited China and signed 19 agreements and China already announced that they will invest US$46 billion in this project. With other visits, both these countries have signed on 51 projects. In future, this investment in the project is expected to be increased.
Relationship with Central Asian Countries.
The geographical positioning of the central Asian countries is very important and
it has a great impact on the entire region. This region has importance due to
the possibility of the transport passage through these countries. The other factor which increases their significance in the region is that these countries have a natural wealth of oil and gas. China and Pakistan both are keen to make
a relationship strong with the Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and
Turkmenistan. These central Asian states are also mutually interested to become part in the gamer changing project of CPEC because this project has many economic benefits for whole region. These central Asian states have the natural wealth and they need the shortest way to transport this natural wealth to othe countries for this China can get benefit through CPEC because it will come easy for them to get this natural wealth in quick period of time. Gas pipeline routes can also benefit both the counterpart with respect to trade and
industry. These central Asian states may have the opportunity to get separated
from Russia as well. The states of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan can get benefit in
terms of infrastructure and other trade options from this project of CPEC. They
can create a closer link with international countries via CPEC and they improve
their revenue in the field of the railway as well through this CPEC.
Pakistani Media versus Central Asian Media
In Pakistan, the media industry is playing an active role beginning from the first decade of the 21st century. Many of the media houses have joined on the landscape of Pakistan and they have
revolutionized this industry. Now the people in Pakistan have enough
information available on their electronic media screens and it’s very easy to
disseminate the information to the Pakistani people through the media.
“The Central Asian States” namely “(Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan)” always remained under the Soviet Union since
1922 when they came under the domination of “USSR” colonial power. At that time the media was under the one community party, it was trying to control all type of mass media and communication. All type of News bulletins from Television, Radio, and Articles from the Newspapers were reviewed by the Soviet community party by the hidden way. In short, the media used the Soviet ideology in this period; the majority of journalists and media owners have taking
directions directory or indirectly from the politicians of the community Party.
All journalists have good relations with the ruling party and broadcast and the
media from the opposition is too weak in Soviet Central Asian States. Today and
tomorrow free press media is remain under control in Central Asian Countries
that are the reasons all types of mass media from Central Asian countries are
very weak and under control of government’s censorships.
China and Pakistan are planning to build a railway track when it will be gets done than Tajikistan may have the opportunity to reach India through this railway track in direct mode. Due to these benefits they are keen to interest in this project. To get all the desired results to develop a public opinion media is
considered as a powerful tool in doing all that because through media it can be
done in a more effective manner.
Media’s Role in developing close ties with Central Asian Countries and
Pakistan in CPEC Perspective
China is a country which has planned on various avenues and they have done the same with the media. China has made Media Forum to get help via media on a national and international level. In this forum, they have kept those people who have a previous background in the media and they know the art of media. China aims to develop a strong relationship with Pakistan and all other countries who are involved in this project of CPEC and they consider it as family members in this project.
China and Pakistan both have agreed that they will use media by strengthening the relationship among themselves as well as all the other countries associated with this project. They have given a lot of importance to media in designing the policies at diplomatic fronts and in promoting the national interests.
Is CPEC a new Great Game?
In the past, many of the world empires have come across in fighting on different
avenues of interest with different objectives. In the 21st century, the game is going to be played in the Central Asian States and many of the analysts are with the view that CPEC is a new great game in Asia. It is considered a new game because the existing world powers may fear the arousal of new powers in the international scenario. The term “New Great Game” was coined by Ahmed Rashid in 1997.
Cultural Exchange and Transformation via CPEC
CPEC is not only the project with has economic benefits for all the entire region
but it will be an opportunity for all the family member countries that there
people can interact with others in a closer touch which will result in bring the
mutual transformation of culture. These people to people direct contact can
result in the sharing of learning and experiences with each other and it can be a
one of the positive result of this project. The important question is how
the norms and values will become part of one culture to other culture, this
the question will be answered in the later years when this project will get
functioning in the region.
United States Media Coverage with respect to China and CPEC
The United States being a powerful country opts the different strategies in every region of the world as they design such policies based on political interests. The same policy has been followed by the United States when they have observed that China is investing in the project of CPEC in Pakistan and this project has long-term outcomes in the region. United States media also cover the countries depending upon the relationship nature with other countries and according to that relationship they design their policies in that particular region. China also does the same policy with the coverage related to the United States and they do the same as the United States does