Geopolitical and geo-economic contests centring around self-interest have been part of the realpolitik of this world since its beginning. Regardless of today's attractive expressions of pluralism, globalisation and so-called rules-based world order, the famous 3S of realism – statism, survival and self-help – have always steer the interstate relations. The unfortunate and speedily manifesting global rivalry also contributes to this contestation.
However, regardless of the external pressures, and regardless of who sits in the highest offices in Beijing or Islamabad, the Pakistan-China bond has evolved into a strong association. Now termed Iron Brothers, Pakistan and China have a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship spanning geo-economic and geo-strategic landscape of the dynamic mosaic of international power politics. This fruition owes a lot to the leaderships of both the countries which, despite external pressures, preserved and nurtured this bond successfully.
China, a friend indeed, supports Pakistan at international forums and helps in its comprehensive security in multiple ways. So does Pakistan. During President of Pakistan's recent visit, China acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices in counterterrorism and expressed its willingness for Pakistan's counterterrorism capacity building.
Pakistan reiterated its support on Chinese 'One-China' policy, and its policies on Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. China restated its support to Pakistan's stance on IIOJK. Despite opposition and propaganda, the Pakistan-China bond continues to persist and grow further with time.
President Zardari's February 2025 visit to Beijing has further cemented this bond through new MOUs and renewed pledges of friendship. The major highlights are: enhancing the collaborative efforts in AI, big data, emerging technologies, education, culture, optimisation of FTA; and complementing CPEC with President Xi Jinping's proposed five corridors concerning Growth, Livelihood, Innovation, Green, and Regional Connectivity. Despite these positive developments, the Pakistan-China ties are being cast in a negative light, with vested intent by a few from the neighbourhood and abroad.
They keep terming CPEC as a debt trap, using distorted figures and half-truth. Even according to a Times of India report on Dec 5, 2024, Chinese share in Pakistan's external debt is only 22%, essentially meaning that major debit burden is not Chinese. Moreover, the Chinese loans are much softer in terms. China always defers or reschedules loans, not only for Pakistan but other countries too. Even the US owes trillion plus USD to China. Many developed countries of Asia and other countries progressed through FDI and loans, so what's alarming here. CPEC is also majorly an FDI project. Only 17% of it is direct loan.
The US, its allies and India all trade with China despite considering it an arch rival. The volume of trade amounts to billions of dollars – EU $1212 billion; USA $666 billion; Japan $217 billion; India $136 billion; Australia $228 billion; and the UK $98 billion – but with the trade balance being in favour of China. Yet, it is Pakistan that is criticised for its closeness with China.
Chinese unprecedented economic rise, credited to its soft power, is woven around win-win economic cooperation without any coercion or blackmail. The BRI is a manifestation of this philosophy and civilisational behaviour of China in conduct of international relations. Steered by reciprocally constructive cooperation, BRI thrives across the contents with partnerships of 150-plus countries.
This success irks its opponents, and draws their ire. While the BRI member states consider it advantageous for their socio-economic development, the anti-BRI forces collude in a well-orchestrated disinformation campaign to shape world opinions to demonise BRI and the Pakistan-China ties.
The BRI is portrayed as a Chinese bid to challenge the current world order, which borders at disorder now. Disinformation and misinformation to settle bilateral scores in this garb remain major means. This unholy effort is complemented by political pressures, coercion, blackmail, weaponisation of high-end technology, chips war and misuse of financial institutions.
Scuttling CPEC through terrorist attacks remains the major focus of the enemies of Pakistan. These acts also aim at creations of mistrust between the two friendly countries. The involvement of India's RAW in the acts of terrorism targeting Sikhs and Kashmiris in Pakistan, the UK and Canada as well as uncovered plans of assassinating Sikhs in the US are well established facts. The former Canadian PM exposed RAW's accesses in the Canadian parliament. These incidents have also been reported by The Guardian and The Washington Post.
RAW's involvement in funding for unrest in Pakistan is well-established through multiple proofs like audio recordings of RAW handlers in the 2019 attack on PC Hotel in Gwadar, unearthed money trails between RAW and terrorists using Indian banks; $882,000 given by India to TTP leadership in Afghanistan; and 700 terrorists trained for sabotaging CPEC. There also exit confirmed proofs of India funding miscreants in the guise of humanitarian aid.
According to latest UNSC report, from July 2024 to December 2024, TTP has conducted 600 attacks in Pakistan. It gets logistic and financial support from the Afghan Interim Government. Regrettably, the ISKP, which has carried out multiple attacks in Pakistan and even in Russia, also happens to be stationed there. This report reaffirms Pakistan's stance on the collusion of multiple external actors inimical to Pakistan and the Pakistan-China friendship.
CPEC, one of the BRI corridors, is viewed as a significant win-win project with pledged investment of about $62 billion in Pakistan. Despite efforts to fail it, it is progressing satisfactorily. The visit to Pakistan of China's Deputy Prime Minister in July last year to commemorate 10 years of CPEC and the joint visit by Pakistan's PM and COAS to China on 4-8 June 2024 demonstrated the resolve of both countries' leadership to further augment this mutually-beneficial relationship.
Pakistan has a great potential to connect Eurasia with the world. Such connectivity is vital for trade, economic growth, job creation and societal development of the whole region. India could benefit from the ground lines of communication through Pakistan for its trade with Eurasia, but only if it decides to take this opportunity positively and become part of this whole.
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