A proactive, solution-oriented and forward-looking approach with due consideration to changing domestic, regional, and international scenarios is required to analyze and tackle current challenges and issues in Pak-China relations, while strengthening policy communication, and safeguarding CPEC projects.
The ideas were generated during an in-house session at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), which was addressed by Khalid Rahman, IPS’ chairman, Dr. Saif-ur-Rehman Malik, senior research fellow at IPS, and joined by IPS’ research team and associates.
Khalid Rahman gave a comprehensive overview of the current status of Pak-China relations concerning the latest developments, i.e. the BRICS meeting and the visit of Yang Jiechi, member Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs China. The discussion was laid in the context of the ongoing presumptions, the change of Pak-China relation’s equation, CPEC, political scenarios affecting CPEC, security issues, and global outlook.
Another issue, significant in the context of the Pak-China relationship, is the security of Chinese nationals engaged in development projects, specifically CPEC. Incidents of targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan are naturally a cause of concern for the Chinese government and raising questions about the efficacy of special security arrangements that Pakistan has made for the Chinese companies and workers engaged in various projects here.
With this context in mind, Khalid Rahman concluded that the non-participation of Pakistan in the BRICS meeting should not be regarded as a matter of big concern if seen through certain ground realities and the technicalities involved in decision-making in such fora. Along with continuously changing and disturbed domestic scenario in Pakistan and the depleted economic situation that Islamabad is currently facing, plus the difference in governance styles and development models of the two countries and Beijing’s balancing approach in the emerging global scenario are some of the factors that should be kept in view while moving forward.
Concerning Yang Jiechi’s visit, he stated two aspects of it for China i.e., the possibilities of having a Chinese security force in Pakistan for the protection of Chinese nationals, and to understand and assess the domestic political situation of Pakistan.
Dr. Saif-ur-Rehman was of the view that the mishap for Pakistan at the BRICS summit and Yang Jiechi’s visit are indicators that Pakistan’s domestic scenarios have their manifestations in regional as well as global politics.
Regarding the first, i.e. non-invitation to Pakistan in the BRICS meeting despite China’s wish, he highlighted that it shows how China is acting in a bigger canvas and trying to balance things. It also indicates a need for Pakistan to see its diplomatic standing at the
international level and neighborhood diplomatic preference for China vis-à-vis India.
