Abstract India and Pakistan are at war with each other for over 70 years. To date, the two countrieshave four full scale wars. This thesis evaluates whether the dispute between Pakistan andIndia is linked with the economic development of the rival country or there are otherreasons for it such as terrorism, border disputes, etc. In the analysis, special attention ispaid to tensions related to Kashmir which started in 1948 and are still there. Kashmirplays a vital role in development of Pakistan in a broader context because The IndusRiver, which is the lifeline to Pakistan, flows through the Jammu and Kashmir. Casestudy method was employed, based on secondary data from the existing studies. Thisthesis is based on theories of international politics to explore the Indus Water Treaty andChina Pakistan Economic Corridor in relation to the economic development of Pakistan.The findings reveal that, contrary to the popular belief of the people of the two countriesthat India and Pakistan are fighting over Kashmir’s territory, much of the problems arerelated to economic issues. Indus Water Treaty and China Pakistan Economic Corridorare helping Pakistan in coming out of the vicious circle of poverty and moving towardsdevelopment. Economic development in Pakistan is not beneficial for India, as Pakistanand India compete in their export markets. So, India is creating hurdles in the economicdevelopment of Pakistan. The violation of Indus Water Treaty by India and India’sinterferences in China Pakistan Economic Corridor are two such examples of it. TheChina Pakistan Economic Corridor will increase foreign investment in Pakistan whichwill lead to economic development of Pakistan. This may strengthen Pakistan’s exportsector and challenge India in its international export markets. Therefore, India is creatinghurdles for Pakistan. Moreover, efficient utilization of water may lead to an increase inpower generation in Pakistan which would help it in overcoming energy shortageproblem, especially electricity. If this problem will be resolved, industry and exportsector will be developed, and Pakistan may compete India in export markets. It wasconcluded that major reason of conflicts between India and Pakistan are economic, notpolitical, geographical, or military.

Pakistan has always had a history of severe energy shortfalls, which rose up to an alarming 33% in 2013. This situation was countered by investments in the energy sector through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which were unfortunately largely based on brown fuels. Although beneficial in the short term, these investments do not bode well for the climate scenario of Pakistan, with various parts of the country already having experienced temperatures rise of 1-3°C. To ensure that the current situation doesn’t exacerbate and is tackled in a timely manner, this research aims to examine how the untapped potential of renewable energy in Pakistan can be better utilized by modelling the entire electrical grid system for multi-portfolio based sustainable electricity generation, in line with the sustainable development goals chalked out by Pakistan with the United Nations (UN). Delving further into the matter, a gap is observed that demands coalescence between sustainability and portfolio-based generation in the context of Pakistan, since the prevalent narrative is of Business As Usual (BAU). The research methodology implemented is a cross sectional case study employing qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and outcomes, in which the entire grid system of Pakistan is studied and sustainability metrics are defined; followed by a comprehensive use of Multi-Criteria Decision Methodology in decision making process. Portfolios defined are a combination of different generation technologies, each simulating a possible avenue of policy, and are then evaluated for a range of sustainability metrics to understand the tradeoffs involved to arrive at a set goal. The process decision framework developed shall enable the Pakistani energy sector in meeting the energy demands by providing the decision-makers with various routes to do so, while informing on the sustainability impact of their decisions.

In the context of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, this paper provides a comparative analysis of China's neocolonialism and smart power strategies through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The study analyzes the economic, political, and social consequences of China's growing presence in these nations and offers a deeper comprehension of their position in the region by drawing on a wide range of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence. The research starts out by examining the idea of neocolonialism and how it relates to China's involvement in the area. It explores into a critical analysis of China's debt-trap diplomacy, which raised concerns regarding the BRI projects' long-term economic viability and political influence. The paper also looks into how China uses smart power as a strategic tool to expand its influence in the region, emphasizing on smart power programs, economic development, and cultural diplomacy.