Transparency and corruption concerns: Khan had been critical of the lack of transparency in CPEC projects. He had said that the agreements between China and Pakistan were "secretive" and that there was a lack of accountability for how the money was being spent. He had also raised concerns about the potential for corruption in CPEC projects, saying that there was a risk that Chinese companies would use their influence to get preferential treatment.
Security concerns: There had been a number of attacks on Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, and Khan's government had been criticized for not doing enough to protect them. In 2021, two Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide bombing in Balochistan, and another Chinese national was killed in a separate attack. These attacks raised concerns that China would be reluctant to invest further in CPEC if the security situation in Pakistan did not improve.
Economic concerns: The Pakistani economy was in a difficult state when Khan came to power, and there were concerns that he would not be able to deliver on the economic promises that were made in order to secure Chinese investment in CPEC. Khan had promised to create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve infrastructure. However, the Pakistani economy continued to struggle under his leadership, and there were concerns that he would not be able to deliver on his promises.
Broader concerns about Khan's government: In addition to these specific concerns, there was also a broader sense that Khan's government was not as close to China as previous Pakistani governments had been. This was due in part to Khan's own personal views on China, as well as to the fact that he had been critical of China's human rights record. Khan had said that China was "trying to colonize" Pakistan, and he had called for a boycott of Chinese goods. These statements had angered the Chinese government, and they raised concerns that Khan's government would not be as cooperative with China as previous governments had been.
As a result of these concerns, China was reluctant to invest further in CPEC under Khan's government. This led to a slowdown in the pace of CPEC projects, and there were even rumors that China was considering pulling out of CPEC altogether.
However, it is important to note that China has not officially stated that it was concerned about Khan's government rolling back CPEC. These concerns are based on media reports and on statements made by Khan himself. It is possible that China's concerns were overstated, or that they have since been resolved.
Ultimately, the future of CPEC under Khan's government was uncertain. However, his removal from office in April 2022 has opened up the possibility of a new start for the project. The new Pakistani government has expressed its commitment to CPEC, and it is possible that China will be more willing to invest in the project under the new leadership.
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