For years, we have seen a close friendship between the West and the East with Pakistan. Recently, we can see Pakistan being stuck between two economic rivals. But the main question is, can Pakistan actually afford to choose China over the West?

China can be seen expanding its influence across the world, especially in South Asia. China has been extending its influence across borders with trade and investments such as CPEC. This shows that China has increasingly become important as the global power balance has shifted away from the traditional Western-dominated system. China offers multiple benefits to Pakistan, such as strategic support, defense alliances, and investments, while, on the other hand, the United States and Europe remain important to Pakistan’s trade, diplomacy, and financial stability.

All of this creates a dilemma: even though China may appear to be a more organic partnership, Pakistan’s economic dependence on Western institutions and markets creates a completely different narrative. Therefore, the question is not simply whether Pakistan should decide between China and the West, but where they possess the economic and diplomatic autonomy to choose a side at all.  

CPEC: Opportunity or Dependency?

While talking about Pakistan and China’s growing friendship, CPEC has become one of the clearest symbols of their relationship. Its massive investment in infrastructure, energy, and transportation has the potential to address some of Pakistan’s longstanding developmental issues. However, the relationship also raises an important concern about dependency.

If Pakistan keeps on depending on China’s investment without actually strengthening its domestic economy, there are risks of replacing one form of external dependence with another. This is why CPEC should not be seen as a success or a failure but as an opportunity that has long-term benefits depending heavily on Pakistan’s own economic plans.

Why Pakistan Still Needs the West

Regardless of Pakistan’s growing relationship with China, Pakistan cannot distance itself from the West. The United States and European countries still remain important destinations for Pakistan’s exports, while the Western states........

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