Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan was significant in that it gave a new twist to the old Maoist doctrine of building a China-Pakistan axis to contain India. China and Pakistan mooted the idea of strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries with China promising to invest $46 billion to make roads, railway lines and pipelines across Pakistan. The China- Pakistan economic corridor will connect China’s Xinjiang province with Pakistan’s Gwadr port giving Beijing direct access to the Arabian Sea. Gwadr port will become a base for the Chinese navy and that may raise apprehensions in Delhi. But Chinese investment in Pakistan is primarily aimed at actualizing its Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road. The emphasis will be on facilitating trade, infrastructure and connectivity. Efforts will be made to open up business opportunities for Chinese firms in partner countries. Beijing has naturally set its sights on domestic growth and hinterland development in view of the sluggishness of its economy. But China has to make sure that its projects are not threatened by the Jihadis in the western part of Pakistan.
The scenario presents a great opportunity to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is due to visit China next month. He has to impress upon China the fact that doing business with India will be better than with Pakistan which is troubled by terrorism. China should be urged to persuade Pakistan to clamp upon terror groups in the country. All this will be to the benefit of China, Pakistan and India. Besides, Beijing enjoys strategic trust in Islamabad which Delhi and Washington can turn to their advantage.
