China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Impacts on Pakistan Foreign Policy: Analyzing PTI Government (2018-22)

This study examines the impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan's foreign policy position during the 2018–2022 tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The study analyzes significant policy decisions, strategic alignments, and diplomatic shifts influenced by CPEC-related occurrences via a qualitative methodology grounded on realism. The findings indicate that Pakistan's strategic position regarding the United States, its bilateral relations with China, and its regional interactions with India, the Gulf States, and Afghanistan were significantly influenced by CPEC. CPEC exemplified Pakistan's pivot towards China amid shifting global power dynamics and served as both an economic catalyst and a foreign policy instrument during the PTI administration. Regional tensions, political debate, and institutional challenges highlighted the need for diversified diplomacy and the vulnerabilities associated with over reliance. To ensure the long-term sustainability of CPEC as a means of national growth and strategic autonomy, the research concludes with recommendations for inclusive governance, enhanced institutional capacity, and equitable strategic engagement.