Military threats will bind Pakistan and China together

[fatman17]

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The National Conversation

Military threats will bind Pakistan and China together

Shaukat Qadir

Aug 31, 2011


This year Pakistan has held three joint military training exercises with China. Two of them were in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, but the one this month was a new development. A brigade-level exercise was conducted in Pakistan's portion of the Rajasthan desert, barely 25 kilometres from the border near the Indian town of Jaisalmer, where the Indian lines of communication to the south are very vulnerable.

Predictably, the exercise caused considerable concern in New Delhi.

It follows a pattern of China's extended influence in the area. Last year during a trip to Kabul, Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani suggested to Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai that he should start looking to Beijing rather than Washington for the future.

Since then, US-Pakistan relations have seriously soured and increasingly Pakistan is looking to China for the military support being denied by the United States. Islamabad's friendship with Beijing has been a constant for decades, unlike its turbulent relations with Washington, including joint ventures in military technology.

The most surprising recent development was China's warning to the United States following the May 2 incursion by US troops to execute Osama bin Laden. Later that month Beijing stated that "an attack on Pakistan will be construed as an attack on China". So what explains this aggressive stance by a country that has been known for a cautious foreign policy?

There can be little doubt that China is projecting power farther abroad than it has in recent decades. In South Asia, a key component of that strategy is the commercial corridor from western China to Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan province. As the recent military exercises show, there also has been a deepening Chinese-Pakistani military relationship.



This is in response to a changing regional security situation. In recent years, the most serious threats confronting Pakistan's military have been internal, including domestic terrorism and civil strife such as the recent violence in Karachi. There is virtually no apprehension of a military threat from India in the immediate future.

But both Islamabad and Beijing are conscious that the Indian military force structure is, and is likely to remain, Pakistan-specific for many years to come. In Rajasthan there are mutual vulnerabilities. If Indian lines of control are exposed at Jaisalmer, Pakistan is more vulnerable at the district capital of Rahim Yar Khan. The joint exercise was intended to send a message that, conscious of its own vulnerability, Pakistan could exploit a similar weakness in India's lines of communication.

Although Chinese participation was limited to an engineering regiment, the first known joint manoeuvre near the Indian border demonstrated Beijing's role in this balance of power. This was the first show of joint operational readiness inside Pakistan, but there are already Chinese soldiers in Gilgit in the north, working on the Karakorum Highway. Economic and development cooperation has a long track record.



Gwadar Port is a good reflection of how that collaboration fits into recent geo-strategic developments. Most trade will probably flow north to south, but a new commercial corridor also opens important energy options, not least of all by connecting Iranian energy resources to China.

From China's eastern ports, access to the Indian Ocean from the Pacific is a lengthy route via the straits of Malacca and the entire route is peppered with US naval bases. On the other hand, there is no US threat on the road to Gwadar.

By some accounts, Beijing contributed 80 per cent of the funding to develop Gwadar's port and city, although there have been questions recently about direct Chinese control of operations. If in the not-so-distant future China establishes a naval presence there, it could project power over Gulf oil trade routes and provide multiple avenues of military influence.

No wonder that Pakistan has become an indispensable strategic partner for China, even to the extent of the warning to the United States about a mutual defence policy. And because Gwadar is situated in Balochistan, where several foreign forces are stoking unrest, the relationship is likely to continue to include a security component. However, it is also important to note that instability in Balochistan is fundamentally caused by the ineptitude, corruption and callousness of Pakistan's political elite, which remain indifferent to the concerns of the Baloch people. After all, unrest can only be stoked if it already exists.

But for all of its other challenges, Pakistan's strategic location in this new geo-strategic balance will probably benefit it in the long term. The challenge is to stem the internal bleeding in the interim.



Brig Gen Shaukat Qadir is a retired Pakistani infantry officer

[DelhiDareDevil]

This is the opinion of Pakistan only and not China or Chinese soldier I like to add.

China is strong enough to do everything alone, but Pakistan needs China helps, as stated by the Pakistani soldier. Time will tell, how things will progress.

[AkhandIndia]

---mistake corrected---

[lem34]

America should never have been in the running to be an ally of pakistan. Its only our corrupt leaders that want the london new york life style etc. The aid that comes with strings to tie our people in cash is stolen by this not so elite minority. China is a true ally and a good neighbour.



---------- Post added at 03:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 PM ----------

i think india should collaborate more with usa in a-stan.Nato will leave a-stan but u.s forces will remain there for decade.I wish to see few thousand indian troops in a-stan to collaborate with U.S forces

What has this post got to do with china pakistan alliance. If you want to talk about american indian alliance go start another thread

[DelhiDareDevil]

Why do some indians get wound up when we discuss chinese pakistani alliance that they have to go off at a tangent and troll. If you cant bear it you dont have to come into this thread.

Because all this talk from Pakistanis doing ABC military with China has never happen.

Like Gwarder port, you guys want China to use, still has not happen, when china said a attack on Pakistan is a attack on China, China still has responded back to the attacks you had etc. Its not that we get wound up, we just smile /grin at it.

[lem34]

Because all this talk from Pakistanis doing ABC military with China has never happen.

Like Gwarder port, you guys want China to use, still has not happen, when china said a attack on Pakistan is a attack on China, China still has responded back to the attacks you had etc. Its not that we get wound up, we just smile /grin at it.

Who paid for gwador who is assisting pakistan in infrastructure development. Who helps pakistan in its quest to become self sufficient in weapon production???

[problemfreeleader]

PAKISTAN AND CHINA AND INDIANS PUT CHILIES IN UR ASSSSSSSSSSS INDIANS WHAT ELSE CAN U DO BESIDE YOUR THIS SPECIFIC MISSION ALL TIME termites..

[Malik Usman]

This is the opinion of Pakistan only and not China or Chinese soldier I like to add.

China is strong enough to do everything alone, but Pakistan needs China helps, as stated by the Pakistani soldier. Time will tell, how things will progress.

We don't need your inteligent openion..............we know who is in favor of whom.

[ChineseLuver]

Pakistan alone can wipe out India.My Pakistani bro's, China will be there for you even if you didn't ask.

[RezRoll]

I find this very perplexing to say the least. I have always wondered how this Pak-China relationship came to blossom.

How does deeply religious Pakistan bind with atheist China? Religion-wise, they are two opposite poles.

[DelhiDareDevil]

I find this very perplexing to say the least. I have always wondered how this Pak-China relationship came to blossom.

How does deeply religious Pakistan bind with atheist China? Religion-wise, they are two opposite poles.

All in the name of India, China is using Pakistan to constrain India, for they own benefit.

It works out to be ideal for both of them, no way they are binded by religion, like Pak-Turk etc

[RezRoll]

All in the name of India, China is using Pakistan to constrain India, for they own benefit.

It works out to be ideal for both of them, no way they are binded by religion, like Pak-Turk etc

Bonded by their desire to constrain India? Would like to see some Pakistanis comments on this too

[muse]

Bonded by their desire to constrain India? Would like to see some Pakistanis comments on this too

What is your take? From your perch things must look very different

[Butters]

Pakistan alone can wipe out India.My Pakistani bro's, China will be there for you even if you didn't ask.

Awhh! How noble of you bro!

I guess this means you won't be leaving your wife at the altar like the last few times then eh? Nevermind, third time's the charm!

[Shinigami]

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Pakistan alone can wipe out India.

and Taiwan alone can wipe out china

My Pakistani bro's, China will be there for you even if you didn't ask.

actually china does not have a good track record of helping its clients states oops... allies during crucial times.
All countries are selfish, but PRC takes the ball game to a whole new level.