According to Pakistani newspaper the Daily Times, Pakistan’s decision to crack down on the Jammat-ud-Dawa, the charity linked to the Laskhar-e-Taiba, came as the result of pressure from China. Jammat-ud-Dawa was blacklisted by a UN Security Council committee this week.
The Daily Times noted that earlier attempts to target the Jamaat-ud-Dawa at the Security Council had been vetoed by China. “It is the Chinese “message” that has changed our mind. The Chinese did not veto the banning of Dawa on Wednesday, and they had reportedly told Islamabad as much beforehand, compelling our permanent representative at the UN to assert that Pakistan would accept the ban if it came,” the newspaper said. “One subliminal message was also given to Chief Minister Punjab, Mr Shehbaz Sharif, during his recent visit to China, and the message was that Pakistan had to seek peace with India or face change of policy in Beijing. Once again, it is our friend China whose advice has been well taken…”
This is intriguing, all the more so given how much attention has has been focused on what the United States has been doing to lean on Pakistan to curb militant groups blamed by India for the attacks on Mumbai. So what has been going on? Has China, with its growing economic power, become a pivotal player in global diplomacy even as the United States continues to hog the limelight?
We’ve always known that China has had a major role in South Asia. But in the past it was a seen as the ultimate all-weather ally of Pakistan, to be used if necessary against India, with which it has vied for influence in Asia and against which it fought a border war in 1962. Is this call for peace an example of it taking on a U.S.-style role of regional policeman, as I discussed in a post back in June about India, Pakistan and China?
The Times of India quotes Shashi Tharoor as saying that there was a feeling in China that its opposition to India on the issue of terrorism would “no longer be compatible with its being seen as a responsible player in the system”.
The Asia Times Online, in a report datelined Bangalore, put China’s decision to support the crackdown on Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) in a more pragmatic context. “An official in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), who spoke to Asia Times Online on condition of anonymity, said that in the wake of the international outrage triggered by the Mumbai attacks, the Pakistan government realized that whether or not the UN body designated JuD as terrorist, it would be compelled by the US to act against the group,” it said. “In the circumstances, it felt it would be better to be seen to be acting under UN orders rather than pressure from India or the US. Hence the Pakistan-China decision to go along with the other Security Council members this time,” it quoted the MEA official as saying.
Personally, I don’t really understand what is going on in the India-Pakistan-China equation (largely because I don’t know much about China). So instead, I’ve drawn up a list of questions on which I’d appreciate comments and which I aim to address in subsequent posts:
1) Has China decided that given its growing stake in the global economy, it has a greater interest in encouraging peace between India and Pakistan?
2) Has it become as important, or more important, a player in South Asia than the United States?
3) If it is aiming now to become an even-handed arbiter between India and Pakistan, why are there still so many problems along the Indian-Chinese border?
4) Why, if China was such a reliable friend of Pakistan, did it refuse to bail out its economy and leave the civilian government there with no option but to turn to the IMF?
5) What do we make of the fact that Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani made his first visit to China, while President Asif Ali Zardari went to the United States?
6) What is the long-term gameplan? And what does this mean for South Asia and the rest of the world?
Are there other questions out there that need to be asked?
(Pictures: Reuters October file photo of Presidents Hu and Zardari in Beijing/David Gray)
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Pakistan is on a collision course with the rest of the world, in its present state.
Allah wiil side with those humans who are pure and good of heart. Allah is already abandoning Pakistan, unless it has an awakening and mends its ways.
Ishallah India.
- Posted by KaffirIts all happened at a very bad time, its happened at a time when there was so much affection and communication growing between the two countries. Its happened after 6 years of peace process and people to people contacts. I think whan the heat of it dies we’ll realise that we’ve made a lot of progress in these six years and all of it should not be reversed. Pakistan must show its intent of bringing the people who did this to justice and India must give Pakistan the space to do it without putting a gun on its head.
- Posted by DeepanThe UN and its member countries have a moral obligation to disarm and disintegrate Pakistan, because it has plunged into a lawless terrorist state and always will be, with guaranteed certainty, with its nuclear arnsenal in the control of those who train and support terrorists, which makes the trainers “master” terrorists. The terrible experiment called Pakistan is a disaster and an utter failure and any notion that it is a country or a democracy are mere delusions.
The world is getting to be too late to realize that the “Master” Terrorists are already in the possession of nukes. For the safety and sanctity of humankind, there is a moral duty for the powers of the world to act decively and quickly to disarm this failed nuclear state.
This failed states’ leaders, population and military and ISI have shown again to be enemies of reason, logic, civility and territorial lines of other countries.
Pakistan has become a septic, rotting corpse, which is going to eventually make the entire world sick and unsafe. It therefore prudent for the UN member nations to act quickly to disarm and disintegrate it, unless and act of God gives a reason to do otherwise.
- Posted by Prevent Greatest Disaster of AllNo Indian Government will ever give up one inch of Ksahmir as there are 150 million muslims in India> Their security cannot be jeopardised. Kashmir has other nationalties besides muslims. Pakistan is the instigator in creating the issue of Kashmir. Pakistan was not created through democratic election but by the British at the so called leaders of Muslims. China and Pakistan illegaly occupy parts of Kashmir. China has no credibilty as Tibet was occupied by them through unlawful invasion.Tibetans have nothing in common with the Chinese except Buddhist religion and physical features.It is in the interest of Pakistan to give up occupied Kashmir to India. Thereafter enter into common market with India and other neighbouring countries for trade and free movement of labour.
- Posted by Krishan ChannanAnup,
The relations between the US, India and China are very subtle. From strategic standpoint, India will never take a stand that will openly pit it against either the US or China. (That does not mean India will be anyone’s pawn because it is too big)
The US is India’s ally while China is India’s collaborator as well as competitor. Indian relations with China are important because China is not only its big trading partner but also has a veto power in the UNSC. This is why India recently denied to form the ‘club of democracies’ which could be perceived as a challenge to communist China.
In the past, India had twice before moved the resolution in the UNSC to ban Jamaat-ud-dawa. On both occassions, China was the ‘only’ spolier among the permanent members of the UNSC. This time however, China along with others, turned around to vote to ban the Jammat.
- Posted by NikhilNikhil
- Posted by AnupI, personally find your observations of the prevailing scenario quiet educative, albeit, debatable…’the chagrin? of the US…’ why not ? – ‘case in point India could not have won the UNSC ban on Jamaat-ud-dawa had the US ‘’or China vetoed it’’.’ – had China a choice? India would have loved it if the Chinese had not vetoed it…
this is an example of prefect circle. first it was an american and european century and now its clear asian century. any nation which has hold over asia is poised to become a global superpower in coming years.
- Posted by yash jainchina is clearly in lead closely followed by india(japan is in severe recession and has old age population).
india in terms of infracture, technology, finance is nearing china. indias gdp is also pegged to touch 10-12% in coming decade. all this will help india to overtake china which america wants(america is opposed to communist ideolgy which is base of china).
with above reasons why would china like to have peaceful india. it is also in proxy war withindia with help of pakistan so that india could not prosper economically and it would help china to maintain lead… hence china is battling for indian borders on north side with pakistan on east side bangladesh on west side . this all make india a highly instable nation and fIIs will take view of this and hence invest in china…ists that simple
Vijay,
Regarding India, in my view, I have painted a fairly conservative picture. Because of the rot in the political class and the bureaucracy, India continues to be strategically far less significant than it should be.
- Posted by NikhilNikhil,
Come on nikhil, i have never seen a far more illiterate comment here. The congress party of India has few buffons who are so old & corrupt, do you expect them to think strategically for Indians.Nothing is more disgusting of their corruption where a bullet proof vest can be penetrated,nothing is more appaling than their leadership in weeding out 10 terrorist.The bleeding of India is very palpable when i see infiltration of bangladeshi,there is massive corruption from the cpm parties.I see a big international conspiracy that bribing is taking place by chinese govt to select congress & CPM leadership.So that india cannot have a strong federal government,there will always be hung parliament.Unless US realizes that if they do not fix congress or cpm leadership this country would turn out to be a very massive headache for them in the future perhaps some time now.Do you know our history where jai singh was a traitor,so can someone confidently say congress or cpm leadership are not in payroll of chinese or USA.One can speculate that the nuclear deal by US was opposed by CPM on chinese government insistence also.The public is in the dark about all these nefarious designs happening in India & Pakistan behind the scene.I think CPM may gang up with the chinese government & seek something grander in west bengal & north eastern areas also.I think every thing happening around India & Pakistan is full of Anti National sentiments aided & abetted by corrupt leaders in both the countries with help of international countries.Wake up indians your congress party & cpm are competing to sell india to the highest bidder.
- Posted by VijayMyra,
I find the triangular dance between the US, China and India worth watching in the coming years; most of which will be played out in South and Central Asia. I see Pakistan being used as a pawn by the big powers in the region.
China is a pivotal player in Asia. China already sees itself as a super-power and its economic muscle offers strategic maneuverability enjoyed by no other state. I think China will silently continue to wield its strategic influence in the Asia-Pacific region; undermining and/or augmenting the US depending on the situation.
India is a large country however, strategically less significant. India may have good trade relations with China however it will continue to counter China in strategic spheres. India will not, to the chagrin of the US, play the “ring of democracies” card against China. In the coming years, India will have to walk a tight rope in balancing the relations with the US and China; case in point India could not have won the UNSC ban on Jamaat-ud-dawa had the US or China vetoed it.
Pakistan, by its nature, will go at any lengths not to be seen as geo-strategically useless. Because of its geographical location, Pakistan will continue to be a “rent” state; someone who charges a heavy price - cash, aid, weapons etc - for its location in the sub-continent. Pakistan will continue to hedge its bets by happily being a pawn of the US and/or China.
- Posted by Nikhil1) Has China decided that given its growing stake in the global economy, it has a greater interest in encouraging peace between India and Pakistan?
China is surely interested in peace between India & Pakistan. China realizes that it has to confront a major refugee problem in case a war breaks out with both indians & pakistanis knocking on its door.It would be disasterous for them economically also.
2) Has it become as important, or more important, a player in South Asia than the United States?
No culturally both India & Pakistan like to be serfs to the US than to chinese. It may sound slightly odd for a Indian to be slaves to chinese.
3) If it is aiming now to become an even-handed arbiter between India and Pakistan, why are there still so many problems along the Indian-Chinese border?
China never bothers about India,they can occupy at will the NE borders anytime they choose.Like India’s humilating defeat in 1962, Indian leaders may in private try to hand over the lands to chinese if chinese learn to grease the palms of Indian politician.China knows in next 50 years they have to occupy entire india,so it is currently not in their interest to allow islamization of india. They want both India & Pakistan to be weaker. Right now china knows in case of a war they have to financially support pakistan & their money will never be paid back so why entangle themselves into a mess.
4) Why, if China was such a reliable friend of Pakistan, did it refuse to bail out its economy and leave the civilian government there with no option but to turn to the IMF?
Pakis can call chinese as their friends, but it is china which needs to decide who they want to be friends with. IN politics it is said it is better to choose a wise enemy than a foolish friends.
5) What do we make of the fact that Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani made his first visit to China, while President Asif Ali Zardari went to the United States
The general may wanted to know if his chinese weapons will work in a real battle or may be to buy more chinese toys on deferred credit.Asif zardari is a non player,so he has been sent to USA who is another non player in next few years.
Long term game plan of china is to make sure every country in Asia is acquired by them or under their suzernity.They realize they have to become global cops.
1. US will be consumed in civil racial strife for next 10 years.With a 13 trillion debt of US it cannot influence anyone.
2. The deep recession in India, Japan, Korea means chinese have a stake in making these economy tick & acting as global arbitrator.
3. They know only islamic ressurgence is a threat for them, quicker you weed that out so much secure is their country.Terror attacks in shanghai or beijing may be a possibility launched by alqaeda where they may see more foreign bloods available easily.Alqaeda after this attack may unite the whole islamic world, Also history books tells us chinese empire were defeated in samarkhand by islamic forces.
4.Europe led by russia,germany,france may pose a serious threat to China if civil war takes place in the US.
Like Austrian emeperor assasination which led to 1st world war, the mumbai attack may turn out to be a clash of civilzation.We need to wait for next salvo from pakistan & taliban they hold the key to determine the outcome of history.
- Posted by vijayMyra,
i want to add one more question to the list…..
7) do india and china are having some sort of diplomatic agreement behind the screen?
because india-china relation is slowly but steadily improving. at present chinese army is in india participating in a war game (which includes counter terrorism ) under the name of hand-in-hand excercise.
- Posted by unknown indianalso i believe that sino-indian border problem is not so important. both the countries use the border problem, tibet as diplomatic leverages.
Good observation Myra, the next focus of US will be to contain China using India. China is anxious seeing India drifting towards US after every misadventure from Pakistani side (state or stateless). China will try to encourage peace between Pakistan and India to reduce US role in the area.
- Posted by MunzirI believe China plays a responsible role in its interactions with India and Pakistan. It has been serving, especially as of late, as a soothing hand in trying to calm down the situation on the Subcontinent.
- Posted by fluffy IIChina truly wants Pakistan to eradicate terrorists from its soil. They have done what other powers have not achieved -separated their interest to vanquish terrorism from their strategic interests vis a vis India and Pakistan. In other words, China will oppose terrorism which exists in countries who are either friend or foe.
Myra, The average Chinese is a couple of notches more intelligent than the rest of humanity; they are taciturn but very good listeners & are hardly garrulous… but sadly a sly lot…
1) No, rather a truce between India & Pakistan is not in it’s favour as it jeopardizes it’s own ambition of invading & annexing the North-Eastern Indian states, nor does the Indo-Pak squabbling affect it’s Global economic standing, which is far far greater than both these countries put together..
2) No, this was adequately addressed during the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal’s NSG clearance, where in the climax, like a serpent, it suddenly raised it’s hood when all other tricks to hamper it failed, only to hastily slither back in it’s pit when the American Eagle swiftly swooped on it…
3) Pakistan is at the most of nuisance value to India, the real enemy behind the screen is China.
4) The Pakistani have the habit of making it a habit, (ask the Americans), Chinese have always extracted many a times more than what they have ever given & they only repay or loan in kind (read only arms) never in cash, then let it be for the rich oil & gas reserves & utilization of the Gwadar Port of Pakistan occupied Baluchistan, or exploiting Sudan’s oilfields with the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed militia, by supplying them arms for the Darfur genocide & on the sly sending it’s own troops in the name of UN to protect it’s interest.
5) Kyani went to kowtow in front of Pakistan’s real Master- China, Zardari was sent on that side of the bread which has butter on it - US, During the Kargil war Musharaf was camping in China, recently, when a few Chinese nationals were massacred by Pakistani militants, the Pak army launched the most brutal crackdown to avenge it & calm down the seething Chinese.
6) Inconceivable, but surely annexations of Taiwan & NE India are the main priorities…
Questions out there that need to be asked?
- Posted by AnupWhy did Pakistan beg of China to save the skin of Hamid Gul in the UNSC? What will be the reaction of the numerous terrorist outfits breeding in Pakistan, knowing well that the Jammat-ud-Dawa / Lashkar-e-Toiba are mere scapegoats, while the real culprit is being left off the hook at their expense?
Would the Chinese ever attempt to retrace their steps & once again walk on the– Eternal Glorious Golden Path of Tao,- or have they forsaken it?
There have been 600 acts of suicide bombings, explosions and other terrorists attacks against innocent civilians this year alone in Pakistan. And if you don’t call the horrific bombing of the Marrriot terrorism - I don’t know what is?
Yea, Pakistan has a lot of problems, and yes, there are terrorists within it’s borders. But you are blaming a whole people, a whole nation and that’s not fair.
The government there is trying hard to fight this menace, which affects Pakistan itself, against a lot of difficulties.
It’s the opinions like yours which makes it all the more difficult for them.
- Posted by fluffy IIMr Robert, who gave the the right to declare a nation terrorist or not i guess your father as a christmas present. Keep your wishful thought, and your bad mouth to yourself. Thanks you and where you from there is surely enough problems.
London bombings those guys were from leeds why didnt you bomb north of england out of sky fools. Told you till you keep a imposing your rules and democracies on others they will never bow down to your double standard values. One set of rules for one and one for another perfect example the Palestine issue.
Regards to pak army well I think it was mr Bush who supported General Musharaf for 8 years. Surely CIA informed bush that he was military dictator but then he was doinf their job so who cares about demopcracy.
When Mr Bhutto was hanged by a miliotary dictator with the backing of the west where was the world. So go tell your bed time stories to someone else.
Pakistan will live, prosper without bowing down to any power. Wake up Mr Robert and another sugesstion get a LIFE!
- Posted by Ali786The most amusing, funny aspect of Pak jehadi mindset is the belief that this is all about Hindu-Muslim fight!! To feed this delusion they read the likes of Arundhathi Roy and Kuldip Nayyar. !!! Hilarious.
Muslim countries don’t care for Pakistan. China doesn’t care any more. Indian muslims are fed up with Pakistan. Harere is an example, MJ Akbar, noted Indian Muslim writer says “Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price”…:http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/ dec/02mumterror-pakistan-will-have-to-pa y-a-heavy-price.htm.
This is about the fight of secular, multi-religious, multi-ethnic India standing against a “country” founded on hatred, never became a “country” since it is full of Islamic fanatic jehadis. The whole world is realizing this.
- Posted by vijay1999Let’s be clear here that pakistan is a “terrorist state” and never have any illusion that it is going to be any different.We have made a grave blunder by suggesting in the international fora that “Pakistan is also a victim of terror.” We should stop interviewing leaders from that country who mouth the same inanities that “you have not produced any proof.”Let us not fall into the trap of providing proof to the culprits. More than 100 acts/attempts of terror recorded in the world since 9/11 have had their roots in Pakistan. More than 40% of the prisoners in Guantanamo are Pakistanis.
We should categorically, unambiguously, unequivocally boycott Pakistan in all aspects for a decade or more. Pakistan is the only territory in the world where an army has a whole country under its control. The state policy of Pakistan is terrorism and their single-point programme of existence is to destroy India.
- Posted by robertMyra,
Instead of answering specific Question I would dwell on Mindset of Countries in ASIA- INDIA, PAKISTAN, CHINA
INDIA- ON UPWARD TRAJECTORY, ECONOMICALLY, SCIENTIFICALLY AT PRESENT NOT INTERESTED IN PROJECTING IT’S MILITARY MIGHT.
PAKISTAN-IN SEARCH OF WHAT REALLY IT WANTS TO BE-
a) MILITARY STATE
b) MUSLIM JIHADI COUNTRY
c) FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY
It has tried all these in last 60YEARS but non of It’s internal Players are VISIONARY, Nor are their POPULATION- Which is Spoon Fed Propaganda from all three Players and are totally confused. That’s why all the external player are PRAISED IN MEDIA- Their Survival in Short Term DEPEND ON IMF, They Wish CHINA may BAILOUT PAKISTAN if USA drop them, thus this is FEAR PSYCHOSIS,and based on Past experience the WORDS OF THEIR STATES MEN ARE FAR FROM TRUTH- These are Designed to Appease their FEEDER and should not be taken beyond that.
CHINA- There are Forces in COMMUNIST PARTY who are old timers who are watching world from POWER POLITICS and REFINED MODERN PLAYERS- Both has Their Say how they View Opportunity and How to Make Use of It. Thus there is no LOVE FOR PAKISTAN IN CHINA- THEY ARE JUST SAW OPENING AVAILABLE TO THEM IN PAKISTAN- IF PAKISTAN THINK IT IS BELLWETHER FRIEND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SAY NO AND EXPOSE THEM SELVES TO PAKISTANI POPULATION WHAT THEIR REAL INTENTIONS ARE.
- Posted by Mahendra Patel