Abstract
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is simple by words but very much complicated in nature, described as “a game changer” for Pakistan although it is a leading step towards Chinese economic and political hegemony in the region. The gateway of CPEC “Khunjrab” provides opportunity for Chinese access to Gulf States, but also an easy, accessible and non-disrupted penetration to warm waters for Russia as well, considered an area of greater scope and higher potential for Pakistan to realize its dreams of economic extensions. This gateway of CPEC is the part of disputed territory of the State of Jammu &Kashmir, located in the region of “Gilgit-Baltistan” (GB); at the junction of Wahkhan (Afghanistan) and Xinjiang (China). This region has very significant role in global geo-economy and geo-political with prospects of regional unusually counted in global scenario, may be at hit list by the CPEC and Sino-Pak opposition. Having diverse ethnic, cultural and lingual aspects which obviously manifests its cultural richness also possesses potential of international hypocrisy by arising Sunni-Shia and other cultural and lingual social conflicts which is targeted in past still somehow endangered zone with result of neighboring aggression, dynamics of international politics and current economic war. This paper is an attempt to explore the cultural variation and diverse values of Gilgit-Baltistan which could be utilized by opposition to exploit the local community to disturb CPEC route. The primary aim is to highlight the major culture-based threats and challenges which could be instable GBand subjugate the CPEC project by using the tools of regionalism, ethnicity, lingual and sectarian levels. The basic conspiracy behind this plan is weakening the Kashmir dispute in international community also an attempt to disturb the CPEC which will change the fate of GB and Pakistan.

Khawaja Zahid Aziz, Anees ur Rasheed Hashmi. (2021) CPEC Issues and Threatening Cultural Diversity in Gilgit-Baltistan, Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society, Volume 34, Issue 1.
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