Eastern Alliance: Pakistan lobbying for defence pact with China
Pakistan seems to have been secretly lobbying in recent months for a bilateral defence pact with China. The efforts have been met with caution in Beijing, however, and officials say there is little hope for an immediate breakthrough.
Diplomatic and military officials told The Express Tribune that Pakistan made overtures to China early this year when its relationship with the US was weakened by several controversies. Islamabad used backdoor and regular diplomatic channels in an attempt to convince the Chinese leadership that the agreement was mutually beneficial, the officials said. “Our view is, and it is also shared by authorities in Beijing to an extent, that this will send a strong signal to the world that Pakistan is not alone … an emerging world power is standing behind it,” an official said.
He added that Pakistan formally raised the issue during a visit by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to China early this year, immediately after the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by US commandos. “He put forward Pakistan’s desire formally,” said an official who was privy to the development but requested his name not be mentioned due to the sensitivity of the issue.
(Read: China endorses Pakistan’s response to US raid: PM)
However, the Chinese leadership, officials said, advised Pakistan not to push for an agreement that could put Islamabad and Beijing in trouble with both Washington and New Delhi. A spokesperson for the foreign ministry refused to either confirm or deny that Pakistan was seeking a formal pact with China, though both countries cooperate extensively in defence production and civil nuclear technology.
“I don’t want to comment on it,” was the brisk answer by Foreign Office Spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua when her comments were sought. Recent diplomatic events seem to add weight to the officials’ claims, though. Gilani’s visit to China, in which he declared the country Pakistan’s best friend, ruffled feathers in the US. One key US Senator said the comments made it harder to convince a sceptical US public that providing aid to Pakistan was a good idea.
“Frankly, I’m getting tired of it, and I think Americans are getting tired of it as far as shoveling money in there at people who just flat don’t like us,” said Idaho Republican Senator James Risch.
Experts appeared to be divided on how China is responding to Pakistan’s request. General (retd) Hamid Gul, former chief of the ISI, said he believed China would go to any extent to support Pakistan but expecting a defence pact at this stage was little too ambitious.
Defence analyst Ayesha Siddiqa took a different position, saying it was possible to imagine that Islamabad and Beijing were involved in talks on the issue, as they already cooperated regularly on defence matters. “They (Pakistani leaders) might be trying…and it looks workable as well,” said Siddiqa. “There might be a lot of reservations in Washington and New Delhi. But it is unlikely to trigger a conflict,” she added.
(Read: With us or against us? A decade on, Pakistan is wavering)
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (74)
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@Lee P: So making a pact means losing confidence in Army? This whole war on terror is about encircling Russia and China. All the trouble spots in the world are coincidentally around China and Russia economic interests. Using Islam to gather patsies to serve Imperial interests whether it is liberating oil fields for supra national oil companies or breaking up nation states (Remember Yugoslavia?). So the war is between Washington consensus and Beijing Consensus, guess which side Pakistan and Saudia is choosing now?
@Thomas: You stated: When India attacked and went all the way to Lahore
Well, that never happened. They did attack and promised to have tea in Lahore butthe dream was never realized.
@Naushad Shafkat: My mistake Naushad! I meant to say to mediate, because India did not listen to America, Britan, Chinese and even the U.N. to stop the fighting. The whole world had to go to Russia to mediate because that was the only country India would atleast listen to. Pakistan and the whole world appeald to the Russians to mediate. A person who was 15 yrs old and 1st year in college, very interested in politics, reading not only Indian news papers, but also N.Y. times and other foreign newspapers I have some incling towards what the truth was. A victor in a war never agrees to give away propery that looser is holding.
@jflossy:
Pakistani daydreams have no end.!!. China is going to threaten India for Kashmir for the paks.!!. It si true that China won the war in 1962, when India had no militaryto speak off. That war woke up India to build up its military. Today if another skrimish or war happens, India will lay waste most of China and they will do the same to India. So if you are thinking China is going to war for you, you are living in fools paradise like all of your history however short that may be. America gave Ayub some" Patton Tanks "and he declared he is going to have tea in New Delhi. When India attacked and went all the way to Lahore, he run to the Russians for help. Now Pakistan claim that it won all the wars, rewriting history after it has happend. India gave most of your property back, but still holds some of your property from, 47, 65, 71,89. So get that pot off the range man.!!
Pakistan unfortunately still doesn't get it.
If your country's objective is peace and prosperity, how about connecting to your neighbors rather than raising armies to fight them? How about building roads, rails, transport links, trade ties so that we all can turn Asia into a free-trade-zone like Europe. Instead, the country is trapped in a militaristic mindset seeking superiority over a benign and easy-going country like India. Quite sad!
@Javed
The US is not able to take on few haqqanis but will be able to take on Pakistan? That is also a delusion my friend. Gorilla warfare is much different than an open war. Even it is more destructive and damaging. Ask Americans Troops in Afghanistan.
@ Santosh
Pakistan is directly affecting from US presence in Afghanistan and therefore we do have the right to say them to leave. As for as the wish of the people of Afaghanistan is concern, do you really think the US and NATO presence is afghanistan is welcomed and wished by the people? what a joke! they killed hundreds of thousands of innocents afghanies (including children and women). They bombed funerals and peaceful Jirgas. The US cruelity have been more obvious in Iraq because of the relatively more access of media. But they have done a great amount of damage to innocent lives in Afghanistan too. US is a lier as the WMD were not found in Iraq. US was not welcome in Iraq and Afghanistan by the people. Obviously you wont points to these reports and facts. As far as the Afghan govt is concerned, so the whole world knows it is a puppet. I will not be surprised if you dont know that. Lastly, the question that why we should be concerned for the killings of innocent people in iraq, afghanistan, and other occupied countries, you wont understand the answer because, as your name suggests, you are not a muslim.
@Jawad U Rehman:
A very mature and sane perspective....well said
Reading the posts above it seems that Indians are greatly worried about this potential development, and so they should be, a mutual defence pact with China would give Pakistan a tremendous strategic advantage on the Kashmir Issue and generate enough confidence amongst the people of Occupied Kashmir to finally gain freedom from there cruel oppressors.
America is the unnatural ally . China makes more sense. wonder why the paki elite waited so long?
@Agha: The Pak Army says it cant attack NW as it is stretched thin. It very strange that we can't take on the Haqqains but have the ability to take on the US. We are suffering from mass delusions. Nothing more and nothing less. Thats the reason we are totally friendless in this world. 180 million and sum total zero.
No nation will go tg any extent to support Pakistan, not even China. We must stand on our own feet if we want to survive with respect in the world.
@Santosh: To date, US and India have wanted to create a strategic partnership, but India has hesitated for fear of a backlash from a public that prides itself on staying neutral. A China-Pak pact would do what successive Indian governments have failed to do – it would create mass support in India in favor of a security pact with the US.
very well said. Washington trying a lot to make india a satellite of US but now they also realize that a country of over one billion people having a strong belief in democratic values and where govt. can't make any decision without taking people under confidence, is not pakistan and it is too big country to become it's satellite. indians understand the US very well. india will strengthen it's position as a major player in international politics in a few coming years on itself. a defence pact between china and pakistan will give indian govt. a point, to prove before it's people for the action to go with US.
First of all Haqqanis are not operating from Waziristan. They had been disbursed long ago due to consistent drone attacks by US. Only left there are their families, elders, women and children BUT no camps or bases. Same is the case with close neighbour border region. What a lame blame by US that Haqqanis attack Kabul (Afghanistan) from Waziristan (Pakistan). Distance wise, its exactly like attacking Islamabad (Pakistan) from Kandahar (Afghanistan) keeping in mind the world's best patrolling guidelines and gadgets installed in Afghanistan assisting their Police and Armed forces with addendum of constant border monitoring by US satellites and surveillance drone. How foolish of those evidences where attackers were getting advices from ISI via phones/transmitters and ISI don't know the high-tech Americans could not track their (so called) conversation.
I personally believe the US absurdly tried to pressurize and twist Pakistan but unfortunately their plan bounced back at their own face not knowingly it will harm them upon the revelation of the factual truths favouring Pakistan.
China would be least interested to enter into a defence pact with Pakistan and risk billions of dollars trade with US and India by confronting them for Pakistan's sake who is more of a liability than an asset. What is China's game plan vis-a-vis Pakistan? Nobody except China would be able to explain but it is unlikely to provide substantial aid as Pakistan got from the Americans. Therefore, Pakistan is risking further downward trend of its economy which it actually needs to boost through aid from US and IMF. But ironically Pakistan has chosen a self-destructive path of supporting a dangerous terrorist outfit which would result in its isolation from rest of the world and even endangering the sovereignity of its state
Another Paki attempt to drag China into its problems. Pak has tried for years for China to take over the Gwadar port and China isn't willing to take that on. Whatever makes Pakis think that China will sign a defence pact with it? Pakis are envisioning a China-Pak alliance that can encircle India and rival US/NATO in Af? But China isn't willing to dance. To date, US and India have wanted to create a strategic partnership, but India has hesitated for fear of a backlash from a public that prides itself on staying neutral. A China-Pak pact would do what successive Indian governments have failed to do - it would create mass support in India in favor of a security pact with the US. Add in the existing US-Japan and US-S.Korea pacts; current anti-Chinese feelings in Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, etc; and lukewarm Sino-Russian relations. The result will backfire into an encircled China, which is the last thing that China wants.
Remember that rabid anti-Americanism and the desire to terminate relations with the US is a uniquely Paki trait. While China chafes at the US, it also exports $700 billion annually to it. Chinese exports to India are at $80 billion a year and growing 20+% year on year. There's no way that China will jeopardize that economic opportunity, no matter whether the friendship is higher than the himalayas or even over the moon.
The way that democracy is dealing with current Pak-US situation proves that Pakistan can perform very good under democratic govt. I hope democracy prevails in Pakistan. China is definitely assisting Pakistan but not leading which is a good sign and exactly how should it happen. Each nation has to stand up on its own foundation so would Pakistan do as soon as this situation is over.
@Ali, Afghanistan is not Pakistan's property for Pakistanis to say whether/when Americans should leave. It is this Paki attitude of treating Afghanistan as it's client state that has done the most damage to Afghanistan and Afghans. The right to decide if/when Americans should leave or if they continue to maintain a presence in Afghanistan, belongs solely to the people and government of Afghanistan.
ohhhh, pakistan is changing it's master...
@Moise: Have you lost confidence in your military? Why do you need a pact of any kind? And what's in it for the Chinese? Why should they besmirch their reputation?
Why don't we behave like China???? They have many issues with their neighbors but are still moving forward on economic front and are rarely seen poking their noses elsewhere on religion and faith beliefs. China is an emerging both economic and military power due to its clear policies, what do we have to offer the world???? It is better to bring our own house/s in order by allowing democracy flourish in real sense. Each Pillar should play within its own boundaries. We have more than enough potential to stand on our own feet but all this requires a will to move forward without any foreign interference which includes some Arab countries and the West..
Do not forget Pakistan fought a proxy war of USA against a nuclear USSR and in returned USSR was defeated and finally broken. Pakistani forces fought the war with full zeal and capabilities in return of some benefit one of them was Nuclear capabilities with silent support of USA or in other words before the open eyes of US. Now Pakistan is going to fight another proxy war against USA in Afghanistan with some obvious benefits. There are chances with the capabilities of Pakistan that US will disintegrate along with it's Ally INDIA.
@Analyst: Yes you are right. Welcome to the dime a dozen China fan club.
Are the Chinese so stupid?
Pakistan is now exporting terrorists and Polio to China. After the pact, Pakistan will export a war to China!!!
All the arguments put forth seem to be bogus. China has never had friends only economic interests. Pakistan is unlikely to provide the kind of economic opportunities the US and India combined can. Also with an Investment of around $ 3 Trillion in US debt any default there can lead it into a recession and downward spiral, that can exacerbate social tension. At best China will mouth platitudes but expect nothing more. Why for heavens sake does Pakistan want to link itself to any camp or grouping ? Is it so insecure that it will sacrifice the well being of its people for some imagined geostrategic gain ? Jumping from the frying pan into the fire is not the wisest choice.
If Pakistan is attacked, first thing should be to close the NATO supply lines for a month and then fire back for invading a sovereign country. If that doesn't work, Pakistan should use targeted nuclear strikes against any attacker for violating International law by invading a sovereign country.
Pakistan reserves the right to defend itself against any arrogance and misadventure by anyone. Pakistanis stand united. It will be tit for tat. Pakistan will overwhelm Afghanistan if it is attacked by any invaders from the Western front.
Enough is enough.
We should remember that the Chinese are no fools. What do they gain or lose from us? Gains: Controlling Support to the Separatists of Uigher Province & crushing muslims. Access to Mineral Wealth/Port/Gas Pipelines if ever something comes up. (But too many militant groups cause significant risk to the investments. Encircling India with our support. Loss Will have to donate billions of $`s. The returns on investments will be much lesser than donations in form of Aid. Image of China. China will get a pariah state image in supporting regimes like NothKorea, Iran, Burma & now Pakistan will be added to the list. Regional Politics. Enmity with India & India might venture into South East Asian waters and find new allies there, just like China is trying to find allies in South Asia.
@aaam sheri: Well said brother when the problem economic i dont know why instead of trying for a trade pact they are trying for a defence pact.
To Beijing,
Sweetheart, After 60 years of friendship cum flattering, I hereby propose you to marry me so that we may be even closer than ever. I know both the Delhi and Washington keep a bad eye on your youth and beauty and it makes me feel possessive when I see you talking and laughing with them.
Lovingly Yours. Pakistan.
Why would China sign a defense deal with a country that is considered the global hub of terrorism? It would be nothing but an embarrassing liability
@Analyst:
"PakisXiang" is more appropriate.....
@Analyst: you forget Cuba, Sudan and Iran!! time for Pakistan to truly join the China-friends club along with N.Korea.
Lets see if Saudia joins too.
Good luck with that, the Chinese are beholden to the US, they wont do much of anything
I think China is not ready for such a commitment. It is still far fetched as far as the military gap between China and US is concerned. Then such a pact will have a reaction in a China-Pak centric defence pack among US,India,Japan,ASEAN and Australia. Even the EU may joint in. This will only weaken the Chinese side further from what it is today while raising the stakes for any confrontation very high. I see this as Pakistan searching its erstwhile strategic value which is fast eroding after Indo-US strategic partnership. It will be tough for Pakistan this time for we are still in a unipolar world order.
If China refuses defense pact then Pakistan should declare itself as a province of China and rename itself to Mao-is-tan. What will Chinese do then ?
Keeping history at the back of our conscious, no country would like to get into a 'Defence Pact' with us for a plethora of reasons.
The reason is simple: we are undecided about what to do with our country. We are temperamental and mercurial in our policies, swaying to and fro, back and forth. Unless and until we dont stabilize ourselves internally, meaning economically, get rid of our archaic laws inherited from the British era, control the beards, spread education, get rid of feudals once and for all, apply the law to heinous crimes i.e. punish the culprits rather than allow the 'biradari' system to save them, no country will form an alliance. It is a bitter, superimposed fact.
So let's start living in reality rather than make believe 'jump start' policies. Salams.
This talk about a Defense Pact between China and Pakistan will probably not materialize. At the height of the Cold War both the United States and the then Soviet Union were looking for client states and were ready to enter into such pacts with any country which wanted to. SEATO, CENTO, NATO and The Warsaw pact are examples of such multilateral pacts, while the Indo-Soviet pact of August 1971 is a bi-lateral example that come to mind. The aim was quite obvious; to get as many client states on board in order to extend their spheres of influence. However the Chinese, as a matter of policy, have never believed in entering into such pacts. I remember Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto making a special mention of this fact and so far he has been proved right. I do concede that things might have changed after China has emerged as a quasi super power and an economic giant. One would like to know if China has a Defense Pact with any country at all?
Eastern Block is welcome...A strong message to the Western Block.
How can Pakistan possibly get more weapons from China than they are getting already?
China fears that India will arm Vietnam in a tit-for-tat response for China arming Pakistan. We see China being assertive in the South China sea, which is closer to Vietnam than China.
Tell me one good reason why China will treat Pakistan better than it treats North Korea.
Was expected....an attack on Pakistan will be construed as an attack on China....
Dont forget China will extract a huge price for that and Pakistan will sink deeper in international image.
N korea, burma and now Pakistan ? China is collecting jewels.
This will be great if it happens. Pakistan should have done it long time back.
We have had pivotal relationships with two powers simultaneously- China and USA. But our establishment always used these relationships to outsmart India when we could have used them to bring investment and progress to our own. IF we had done that we would be 10-15 years ahead of India and strong even on the K issue. All without joining any camp.
But our establishment remains mired in a militaristic seige mindset. From being in the US camp during the cold war, we are now going to be China's paw in South Asia and Central Asia. Emotions guide us to highest mountains and deepest oceans.
The questions we ought ask as we pursue his defense pact: Who lost the USA? Who drove India closer to the US and Europe? How will it deliver Kabul and IOK on a silver platter to us? Will this make us so secure that we will be able to eliminate our home grown strategic assets?
Pakistan is fast creating a self-fulling prophecy and isolating itself into a corner. We the Pakistanis wish to ask our leadership, especially the military one, that what is the wisdom of associating ourselves with the likes of Haqqanis at the cost of the whole world (yes, even China will not appreciate an Islamic Emirate next to their restive East Turkestan/Xinkiang region). Sacrificing a whole nation's future in support of these people is not wise. I know it may satisfy your ego and possibly the extremists in the ISI, but the 180 million people want to know what strategic depth are we gaining by continuing to allow Haqqanis to operate from Waziristan. If it is all American fabrication, then please let us take back control of ENTIRE Waziristan - back into our sovereignty without fighting Haqqanis, since they don't exist there- tell the remaining Haqqanis to go operate from Afghanistan and leave us alone, and then we will be on a higher moral ground if anybody in the world points fingers at us for allowing our territory to be used against them. Remember, even a limited confrontation with the West in the Tribal areas will set us back a decade, while India marches ahead economically. We will become weak and indefensible anyways.
" ....strong signal to the world that Pakistan is not alone …"
The problem lies in not what Alliances Pakistan has - it is WHAT will this alliance defend??
Now, if a Haqqani plot to blow up New York is discovered - will China go to war on behalf of the Haqqanis?
With no worry about terrorists running amok in Pakistan, the delusional thinking of the Pakistani establishment breaks new gounds everyday!!
This is all just maneuvering based on arm twisting of one nation against another to agree on policy goals.
The worst that can happen to Pakistan is that it turns into another North Korea. In the event this happens, there will be less flashy things to purchase for the average consumer and the educated rich of Pakistan will fee to foreign capitals. However, this will reduce income inequality within Pakistan, so it would be an opportune time for reform in the labor laws of Pakistan. A healthy dose of socialism may be needed to counter the extreme religiosity and superstition of the country. It will have a lower economic growth rate, but this would be tenable if the birth rate reduces as well to manageable levels. Pakistan has plenty of land per capita, and regardless of the current political and economic situation, would be a conduit for trade routes in an important region.
I guess evidence just keeps piling to alert us on how duplicitous and politically immature the Pakistani establishment really are. Do you seriously believe that China, which indeed views Pakistan as its political asset towards India, would risk an American default on their loan repayments and an exodus of allied capital from their country for the sake of Pakistan? What world do Pakistanis think they live in?
why we are always striving for a power , military domination, regional prominence or why we always tend to a be a main stream actor ? please get aside and stabilise the living conditions of "aaam sheri" ...
“Frankly, I’m getting tired of it, and I think Americans are getting tired of it as far as shoveling money in there at people who just flat don’t like us,” said Idaho Republican Senator James Risch....
Yes senator, we are tired of you too..so please keep your aid... get the hell out of Afghanistan..stop attacking Muslim countries...tell your poodle Israel to vacate muslim lands in occupied teritorries... recognize Palestine....and stop meddling in Muslim land to satisfy your lust for OIL.
Please take care of the millions of American who got dispossessed by the corrupt bankers in Wall street..
American shamelessness has no bounds...