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Pakistan's China Card |
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"Pakistan is using the China card to put pressure on the US and get more concessions," Dr. Shameem Akhtar, an international relations expert, told IslamOnline.net. President Asif Ali Zardari is currently on a four-day state visit to Beijing aimed at rustling up crucial Chinese investments in the country. China vowed earlier Thursday to do what it could to help cash-strapped Pakistan avert a financial disaster. "As a long friend of Pakistan, China understands it is facing some financial difficulties," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. "We're ready to support and help Pakistan within our capability." Zardari met Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao Wednesday, October 15, and signed eleven agreements, including one on economic cooperation, to strengthen their decades-old ties. "This is not the 19th or 20th century when one country can depend on one particular big power," says Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad, a security analyst. "In my opinion, Pakistan is exploring all possible avenues to develop itself." Pakistan’s economy is registering a nosedive on major economic indicators. The rupee currently stands at 80 against one US dollar whereas just six months ago, one dollar was equal to Rs 60. The country’s trade deficit stands at 12 billion dollars, which is the highest ever in its 61-year old history. The global financial crisis has pushed Pakistan closer to the brink and reports, denied by Islamabad, claim the country faces bankruptcy as soon as February. America, Pakistan's main ally in recent years, is not in position to help since the economic meltdown was triggered by the collapse of several Wall Street giants. Old Friends China has long been one of Pakistan's closest regional partners, with Beijing looking to Islamabad as a counterbalance to India. "China wants to invest heavily in Pakistan, and it has stated its desire on many occasions," notes Mushahid Hussein, a senior security and diplomatic analyst. He recognizes, however, that despite the Chinese desire for stronger ties with Pakistan, there were always two main hurdles. "However, the major hurdle in this regard is lack of security in Pakistan." China has provided some $450 million to fund the new port of Gawadar in Balochistan province not far from the ultra strategic straits of Hormuz, hoping it would provide Chinese ships direct access to the Gulf and Central Asian states. However, a number of Chinese engineers working in the port have been abducted and killed by unknown attackers in recent years, forcing the Chinese companies working in the project to leave. "The abduction of Chinese engineers and threats to Chinese citizens residing in Pakistan compounded the situation," Dr. Akhtar said. "Ironically the Gawadar port was built with the help of China, and was practically handed over to Americans." The other major hurdle for Pakistan-China cooperation, experts affirm, is Islamabad's US ties. "China doesn’t like the growing US influence in the region as it considers that a threat to its security," Akhtar says. "China thinks that due to the US and the NATO influence in the region, pressure is increasing on it," Hussein concurs. Indispensable America
But analysts agree that no matter was assistance Beijing would offer, America remains indispensable for Pakistan. "No doubt, it is a wise move from the Pakistani establishment to return to our old friends, but I am not sure whether this will work," says Akhtar, the international relations expert. "I don’t think that America will come under pressure by this move because it knows that Pakistan cannot survive without its support," he said. "Pakistan has never come out of the US orbit." Dr. Ahmad, the Islamabad-based security analyst, agrees. "Improving relations with China doesn’t mean that Pakistan is severing its ties with the US, not at all." He contends that neither Pakistan nor China can afford to lose Washington. "Even China cannot survive without American markets. "China is the largest producer to US markets, and its economic policies are more capitalist than US and Europe," said Dr. Ahmad. "Pakistan is dealing with a pragmatic China, which has no ambitions to stay away from this economic world." |
Pakistan's China Card
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