COMMENT: Pak-China security cooperation Dr Rashid Ahmad Khan

The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan has publicly stated that separatist elements responsible for trouble in Xinjiang received training in Pakistan’s tribal areas and Afghanistan during the 1980s

While bilateral military ties between Pakistan and China remain strong, the two countries are looking forward to expanding the parameters of their cooperation to address new security concerns that threaten not only the peace and security in the region but also pose a serious challenge to the national security interests of the two countries. This was evident from the accords reached between the two countries during Chinese Defence Minister General Liang’s recent visit to Pakistan as the head of a 17-member delegation. Underlining the Chinese commitment to bolstering Pakistan’s defence capabilities and supporting it politically, General Liang, in his statement, told his Pakistani hosts that his country would continue to provide Pakistan with military and economic assistance, and support its stance on different political issues. However, the focus on measures like holding joint counter-terrorism military exercises involving all the three services and provision of Chinese military equipment to the Pakistani armed forces to be used in counter-terrorist operations, represents a new perception of regional security that takes into account the threats posed by extremism and terrorism more seriously.

China is Pakistan’s principal source of military supplies. China has provided vitally needed technological assistance for Pakistan’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes throughout the 1980s and 1990s. This was the period Pakistan was subjected to stringent economic and military sanctions by Western countries, especially the US. Chinese military assistance to Pakistan in conventional weapons includes the JF-17 aircraft, JF-17 production facility, F-22P frigates with helicopters, K-8 jet trainers, F-85 tanks and small arms and ammunition. According to Western sources, China has also built a turnkey ballistic missile manufacturing facility near the city of Rawalpindi and has helped Pakistan develop the 750 km range Shaheen-I ballistic missile. Hitherto, the focus of this robust Pakistan-China defence relationship has been the common goal of countering Indian power in the South Asian region, but the resurgence of militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas and their expanding trans-national networks may force Pakistan and China to shift their focus and concentrate more on joint mechanisms to counter the growing threat of terrorism. The Chinese anxiety to move, in collaboration with Pakistan, quickly and effectively in this direction stems from their three major national security concerns.

First of all, China faces a direct threat to its national unity and territorial integrity from the unrest in its Xinjiang province created by Uighur separatist elements, who, the Chinese believe, have had links with militants based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan has publicly stated that separatist elements responsible for trouble in Xinjiang received training in Pakistan’s tribal areas and Afghanistan during the 1980s. Pakistan has taken steps to mollify Chinese concerns by clamping down on Uighur settlements and on religious schools used for training purposes. Pakistan is also reported to have extradited, in April last year, a number of Uighur activists to China after they were found involved in terrorist activities. Pakistan and China have put in place a joint counter-terrorism mechanism at the interior minister’s level. The two countries have also held a couple of joint military exercises to promote coordination between their armed forces against the threats of terrorism and separatism.

Secondly, China is very concerned about the deteriorating law and order and security situation in Pakistan as it not only undermines the stability of a staunch ally and an important pillar in the Chinese Indian Ocean strategy, but also impedes joint initiatives for the expansion of the Pakistan-China economic relationship in the fields of trade, investment and joint ventures in mining, infrastructure building, construction and energy. In 2005, Pakistan and China concluded dozens of agreements to expand economic ties through enhanced trade and investment, but progress has been very slow chiefly because of the bad security situation marked by growing incidents of terrorism, kidnapping and killing of Chinese workers and engineers. In 2006, the two countries concluded a Free Trade Agreement, but bilateral trade remains low and is nowhere near reaching the target of $ 15 billion by 2011. Both Pakistan and China accord top priority to the strengthening and expansion of economic and trade relations to provide a durable base for already strong friendly relations between the two countries. But the menace of terrorism stands in the way of realising this dream. There are, therefore, strong imperatives for both Pakistan and China to cooperate with each other to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

Thirdly, Chinese stakes in a peaceful and stable South Asia have increased manifold over the last three decades with a phenomenal expansion of its economic and commercial relations with the countries of the region. It also has an observer’s status in SAARC. Bilateral trade between China and India jumped from $ 5 billion to $ 40 billion during a period of just five years. For achieving the goals of modernisation and welfare of the people through economic development, China needs a peaceful neighbourhood. In 2004, China was one of those countries that played a behind-the-scenes role in facilitating the resumption of Pakistan-India talks under the now stalled peace process. A peaceful and stable South Asian region serves the strategic interests of China as well as other countries of the region because Chinese involvement in various projects in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is growing rapidly. This is possible only when the countries of the region shun confrontation and join hands to fight the common threats of terrorism, backwardness and poverty.

The decision by Pakistan and China to forge close cooperation in counter-terrorism under the framework based on the three MoUs signed during the visit of the Chinese minister has far-reaching implications for peace and security in the South Asian region. It will not only strengthen the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, it will lead to a much needed regional approach to tackle the threat of extremism and terrorism in South Asia.

The writer is a professor of International Relations at Sargodha University. He can be reached at rashid_khan192@yahoo.com