Last few months have been tough for Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s premier, who has braved resilient opposition sit-in protests in the federal capital. Although he seems to have weathered the political storm, these protests are expected to compromise his authority and tip the power balance in military’s favor. The changing circumstances in Pakistan caused an alarm for regional allies, like China, as well. A politically stable Pakistan was seen critical to trade and security in South Asia.
In September, the Chinese premier was also forced to postpone his visit to Pakistan till the country overcame turbulence in domestic politics. Meanwhile, China entered into new trade partnerships with India that could lead to a paradigm shift in regional dynamics. To the delight of Sharif government, China has shown a commitment to long-term development of Pakistan and maintaining a balance of power in the region. On his recent visit to China, Sharif signed new agreements worth up to $42 billion in different sectors of the economy.
These accords will prove critical for Pakistan to overcome the persistent energy crisis, promote infrastructure development and reposition itself as a lucrative investment destination. Positive spillover effects from economic progress will help to stabilize the country and build its capacity to achieve sustainable socioeconomic transformation.
From a political standpoint, Chinese cooperation with the Sharif government has given a new lease on life to the troubled regime. By expressing full confidence in the leadership of Sharif, China has signaled that it will not support any radical and unconstitutional measures to topple a democratically elected government. Boosted by Chinese backing, Sharif has labelled his successful visit as a “game changer” as it heralds a new era of economic and security partnership between the two friendly neighbors.
The Chinese support has emboldened Sharif and softened the stance of main opposition parties. For the sake of promoting democracy and stability in Pakistan, all political parties must now come together to end the political deadlock that threatens to derail the country’s future.
In exchange for the economic assistance, Pakistan will be providing support to curb violence in the restive far-western Chinese region of Xinjiang. The East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a militant organization seeking independence for the region, has been blamed for a wave of attacks that have claimed the lives of more than 200 people since last year. By seeking Pakistan’s assistance, China has expressed full confidence in the ability and commitment of the country’s military to overcome the threat of terrorism. The trust reposed by China is of immense importance in light of Pentagon’s recent report that accuses Pakistan of supporting militant activities in India and Afghanistan.
The continued Chinese willingness to stand by Pakistan at all times will have far reaching consequences for regional politics and power struggle in the context of US pullout from Afghanistan. By supporting Pakistan, China will keep India’s power ambitions in check and gain a more dominant role in South Asia. Therefore, a stable and progressive Pakistan is key to China’s future interests in the region as well. By generously aiding Pakistan, China has proved that its bond with the country is based on solid foundations.
