CPEC- AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR PEACE AND ITS IMPACT ON KASHMIR DISAGREEMENT

Purpose of the study: This research explores CPEC as a model of "Economic Interdependence" for being a mega driver of Globalization, which can bring economic equilibrium through development and interconnectivity for resolution of Kashmir dispute by connecting institutional and diplomatic channels to the economic interdependency. Methodology: This research is based on secondary data collected from various sources like academic papers, electronic sources, Newspapers, Periodicals, Journals, organizational reports, and books. For interpretation of data, descriptive and analytical approach has to be adopted by using the deductive method of investigation. Principal Findings: The main findings indicate that CPEC will provide grounds for minimizing conflicts on accounts of consistent regional and intra-regional economic connectivity. CPEC will transfigure the geographic position of Azad Jammu and Kashmir into an asset to be an economic engine for the establishment of peace in the region by amicable resolution of prolonged Kashmir dispute using economic connectivity. Applications of this study: This research will be helpful for academics of peace and conflict studies, International Relations, diplomacy and strategic management, policymakers, diplomats of Pakistan, China, and India. It will contribute to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Novelty/Originality of this study: The novelty/originality of this research lies in the attempt to correlate the concepts of "CPEC as an actor of economic interdependence" and "CPEC as a catalyst for the amicable resolution of Kashmir dispute."