Xi Jinping to Visit Pakistan: India Watches Closely Amid CPEC 2.0 Push, Shaksgam Valley Dispute

• Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Pakistan signals Islamabad's continued reliance on Beijing despite courting Washington.
• Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif announced the visit, focusing on CPEC 2.0, which aims to boost agriculture, IT, AI, mining, and youth development.
• India is closely monitoring the visit, viewing CPEC projects as debt-driven, sovereignty-questioning, and challenging its territorial claims, especially in the Shaksgam Valley.
• Security concerns for Chinese nationals in Pakistan remain high, with Beijing pressing Islamabad for stronger guarantees after numerous fatalities.
• The visit coincides with Pakistan's renewed engagement with the US, highlighting Islamabad's strategy of balancing major powers for geopolitical leverage.

Why It Matters: Xi Jinping's Pakistan visit underscores deepening China-Pakistan ties, raising Indian concerns over CPEC and territorial integrity.