Indo-China conflict: What’s in it for Pakistan? (Financial Express)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations 
Prelims level: Indo-China conflict
Mains level: Indian and its neighbourhood relations 

Context:

• Pakistan’s chief of army staff, Qamar JavedBajwa, recently made a statement on Pakistan’s Defence Day and Martyrs’ Day at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi that, “We (Pakistan) are facing the challenge that has been imposed (by India) in the form of a fifth-generation or hybrid war. Its (India’s) purpose is to discredit the country and its armed forces and spread chaos”. 

Reinforcing the narrative to target India:

• Pakistan has been reinforcing the narrative, targeting India’s military and diplomatic positioning, and strategic partnerships that Pakistan perceives could potentially challenge its anti-India strategy, which relies on sponsoring a proxy war through terrorism and anti-India propaganda with regards to Kashmir.
• In an article it has been highlighted that the strong probability of Pakistan opting for nuclear weapons against India to negotiate the issue of Kashmir. 
• General Bajwa’s statement and Ashraf Qazi’s comments come at the peak of tensions between India and China. 
• Pakistan and China share a deep strategic (and, now economic) alliance for decades and Pakistan is often (in recent times) satirically called a ‘colony of China’ with the growing Chinese investment and engagement. 
• China remains the largest defence supplier to Pakistan, and between 2015-2019 more than 70% of Pakistan’s weapons came from China. 
• There are concerns and discussions on the probability of a ‘two-front war’ against India in the wake of the frequently erupting tensions between India and China. 
• It would be useful to analyse Pakistan’s leverages and gains during the India-China tensions.

History of the alliance:

• A brief look into the history of the alliance would assist our understanding of the current scenario.
• Pakistan’s interest in, and approach to, China intensified in 1959 after the Tibetan revolt and flight of the Dalai Lama to India, which embittered the Sino-India relationship. 
• A further boost to the Sino-Pak relationship came post the Sino-India border war in 1962. 
• The two countries signed the Shaksgam Valley agreement in 1963 which laid the foundation of the Karakoram highway and provided the base for future defence and military collaboration. 

Factors relating Sino-Pak alliance to post-1965:

• During the 1965 War, China demonstrated sympathy and support for Pakistan; 
• While Pakistan failed to win the war in 1965, its military, nevertheless projected it as a victory, especially in the air, and the thirst for high technology systems intensified; 
• The US arms embargo led to the suspension of US military assistance to Pakistan.

Intensify its proxy war and anti-India propaganda:

• Pakistan would highlight its posture of victimhood and strengthen the narrative of its capability and willingness to defeat India’s strategy.
• Pakistan is likely to push for more Chinese equipment in the coming times despite its economic challenges. 
• Pakistan will continue to escalate the nuclear threat to push for the Kashmir agenda and attract global attention. 

Way forward:

• Pakistan is likely to push for more Chinese equipment in the coming times despite its economic challenges. 
• It will also continue to escalate the nuclear threat to push for the Kashmir agenda and attract global attention
• It would be good to understand what could Pakistan gain in the India-China tensions, given its deep reliance on Beijing.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the POWERGRID, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under Ministry of Power.
2. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has recently approved monetisation of assets of POWERGRID.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:

Q.1)“It cannot be business as usual with China after the border clash.” Critically comment.