The Chinese muscles
Pakistan and China are making a leap forward in cementing their strategic partnership. The visit of Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping has consolidated the impression that there is much to do in their bilateralism, other than economic orientation. The desire on the part of Beijing to strike a renewed nexus of defence cooperation, and the eagerness by Islamabad to refurbish its arsenal, makes it a get-going indispensable interaction. Of late, Pakistan is the recipient of J-10 fighter jets, in addition to many more such collaborations in beefing up its security gadgets. This cooperation, however, is not meant for war-mongering, as is the case with many other countries’ defence understanding, but to buckle up a regime of peace and security in the region and beyond.
Zhang Youxia, the Vice-Chairman of Chinese Central Military Commission, and the Pakistani commanders reportedly discussed threadbare the emerging realities, and agreed to signpost their priorities in the new milieu. While both the countries share a similar paradigm of peace and coexistence, Islamabad’s inching towards Beijing works out as a deterrent against extra-regional fissures. It also sends down a strong message that Pakistan is not unaware of interference in the region on the part of QUAD and Indian designs to further its hegemony. This is why both sides agreed to enhance their training, technology and counterterrorism cooperation at tri-service level, making military diplomacy a cornerstone of their foreign policy.
Pakistan’s friendship with China, nonetheless, is not at the cost of others. This is why Islamabad shuns camp politics, and is eager to strike a chord of congeniality and cooperation with the US, too. With Washington, Pakistan enjoys a special nexus on counter-terrorism. The ground realities in Afghanistan call for a superb trilateral cooperation, and Pakistan has a role to play. The strategic lifeline economic interaction between Pakistan and China over $60 billion CPEC, and the reinvigorated rubbing of shoulders in defence makes it an impregnable relationship.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2023.
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