The region is undergoing geopolitical shifts as Delhi inches towards Beijing for a rapprochement. China, nonetheless, has been forthcoming in assuring Pakistan that their all-weather strategic partnership will not be impacted by the new crosscurrents. During his visit to Islamabad to attend the Sixth Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated that the “new realignments would not dent Sino-Pak partnership”, and went on to reassure that protecting Pakistan’s sovereignty and promoting development remains a cardinal principle of Chinese foreign policy.
These words mean a lot as states usually shift their preferences and loyalties, as is evident from the outcome of the US-India brawl. While Pakistan and China are part of a landmark trans-regional connectivity, the sharing of notes and pledges of conformity in the wake of India’s proactivity was most appreciated. As the second phase of CPEC is being launched for industrialisation to take root, the need of the hour is to further a regime of peace and make India realise that entering into talks with Pakistan is indispensable. Likewise, the new avenues of cooperation spelt out by Wang Yi in countering terrorism, curbing extremism and deepening law-enforcement mechanism are epoch-making and must lead to routing of non-state actors from the restive provinces of K-P and Balochistan.
India’s desire to opt for a thaw with China is an outcome of exigency geopolitics as it has been pushed to the wall by the US. Likewise, its special relationship with Moscow in terms of oil imports and preferential trade deals has landed it in rough waters, as Washington slapped 50% tariffs on imports from India. Thus, Delhi’s restlessness is understandable as it wants peace on its tumultuous borders with China too with which it has fought over Galwan Valley in 2020.
This sense of urgency to mend fences must replicate with Pakistan too, leading to serenity and unhindered connectivity. Will India act as a responsible emerging power is anybody’s guess, but a glance at its Hindutva-driven politics aimed against Muslims and Pakistan suggests a dismal picture!
