Friends and foes

Attending the 88th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Islamabad, COAS General Raheel Sharif made it a point to emphasise the depth and span of the links between the two countries, stating that any enemy of China was Pakistan’s enemy as well. In this context, he made a reference to the East Turkestan’s Independence Movement, based in the Chinese province of Xinpiang, but the words could also be interpreted as pertaining to India – a country with which Islamabad and Beijing have deep rooted problems. This is especially true since General Sharif, in what is the first occasion at which a chief of army has attended a diplomatic function of this nature, also spoke of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and said nothing would be allowed to sabotage it or stop it at any cost. It should of course be noted that India has made threatening noises regarding the corridor, which Pakistan sees as crucial to its economic and strategic interests, and has already begun work to build it. In Beijing, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modhi recently spoke out against the venture, terming it potentially dangerous to India as it passes through disputed territory.
Given the strategic alliances forming in the region and the ongoing hostility between Pakistan and India, the words of the COAS and his presence at the Chinese diplomatic function is highly important. He and other officers of the armed forces were given full protocol by the Chinese hosts with the Chinese Embassy’s Armed Forces Attaché Major General Qi Huajun also speaking of the significance of Chino-Pak ties. In the coming months, the manner in which these pan out will determine a great deal. General Sharif clearly believes that developing strong links with China is crucial to defending Pakistan against any adventurism by India. The matter of building stronger links with Beijing is also important because New Delhi at the present moment is attempting to do precisely the same. China and India, together, of course constitute a huge tract of South Asia. Pakistan’s strong relations with China, however, allow it to play a key role in the region – and this will grow with the building of the long CPEC, offering China a link to markets in the Middle East and Europe through the Gwadar Port. In other contexts too, the COAS spoke of the close links between the two countries and how they could be used to support each other. China has, for a long time, sought Pakistan’s help against Islamic militants operating in its territory. And the promise to deal with the ETIM seems to fall in line with an agreement to honour this demand. Doing so would of course draw the bond closer and help Pakistan further in its quest to tactically defeat Indian hegemonic intentions in the region.