Interaction of Sino-Muslim Civilizations: The Question of Pakistan’s Centrality

Abstract

After the end of Cold War, the era of Western dominance began to diminish owing to incessant rise of China which brewed clash construct between Chinese and Western Civilizations. In this connection, China as rising power is on the onset of revival of ancient Silk Route in order to have weight of Muslim Civilization on its side as Muslim world has been under USA influence in coercive and non-coercive manner since long. On the other hand, to materialize the said revival, China finds its natural and historical convergence with Pakistan that could be her pivot to Muslim world. Nevertheless, with advent of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) the case for historical reorientation through revival of old Silk Route becomes more practical for both China and Pakistan. Moreover, the flagship project of BRI China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan’s geographical locations as a hub of connectivity of Central Asia, Western Asia, East Asia and South Asia may prove yet another gateway of China’s relevancy to the Muslim World. Pakistan on the other hand, assumes distinct place among Muslim countries as well as with China. The paper contends that the increasing relevance of Pakistan to China and China’s desire to have weight of Muslim Civilization on her side may assume the trajectory of revival of Sino-Muslim civilizations that would be mutually beneficial for both the civilizations as it would provide opportunity to both in terms economic strength and political influence through growing interaction, and on the other hand, the clash construct could be counterbalanced. Moreover, the competing visions of West and China regarding clash construct and placing India as a counterweight to China opens the prospects for Pakistan’s centrality vis-à-vis interactions of Sino-Muslim civilizations.