Pakistan, China have shared interests in regional peace: Gilani

APP | 14th May, 2012

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza GIlani. File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan and China had shared interests in the promotion of peace and development in the region.
Addressing a 100-member youth delegation from China at the Prime Minister House, Gilani said the ever-expanding cooperation in multifaceted fields reflected the goodwill that the leadership and the people of two countries nurtured for each other. The delegation led by Deputy Secretary General of All China Youth Federation (ACYF) Wan Xuejun is currently visiting Pakistan. It comprises people from different walks of life, including professionals, business entrepreneurs, artists, students and sports persons. Gilani said the depth of Pak-China partnership could be measured by an all-encompassing nature of the strategic relations which cover trade, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture, infrastructure building, defence, education, science and technology, human development and cultural exchanges. Gilani said the strengthening of people-to-people contact was a manifestation of the shared resolve to further deepen bilateral relations. He hoped that the visit would contribute to building a bright future for the relations of the two countries. It goes without saying that Pakistan and China are good neighbours, time-tested friends, kind brothers, close partners and strategic allies, he said.

He said the unique relationship went beyond the governments and was owned by the people of both countries. Prime Minister Gilani said the Pakistan-China friendship, aptly described as all-weather, had stood the test of time. He said Pak-China bilateral ties were based on strong foundations of trust and mutuality of interests and were also rooted in the ethos of the people of both countries. Gilani said the future of any nation depended upon its youth and on how best it used their potential. He said the Pakistani youth was deeply interested in the affairs of the country and were playing their due role in its socioeconomic development. They believe in a strong, democratic, moderate and prosperous Pakistan. What they need is the right kind of environment and we are focusing on making Pakistans environment conducive to our youth, he said. He said Pakistan sought to create opportunity for modern education and social landscape upon which its youth could exploit their natural abilities to the maximum.

Flashback: Legacy of the East

By Saadia Reza | From InpaperMagzine | 6th May, 2012

They came as dentists, restaurant owners, shoemakers and beauticians. They were Muslims and nonMuslims, old and young, families and individuals. For some, this migration to Pakistan was a stop-gap arrangement until they could fly to greener pastures, a few assimilated with the locals, while many remain nestled in a few corners of the country, living a contented, happy life.
The China-Pakistan connection runs deep; and this is not a reference to the political aspect. Ever since the Chinese first set foot on the sub-continent soil during the late 19th and early 20th century as silk traders, or enthralling one and all with exotic

cuisines, they have made their presence felt. Peaceful, and unobtrusive, the Chinese settled quietly beside the locals, intermarrying and adopting their culture and language. Their footprints are embedded from the Karakoram Highway to coastal Karachi, as these introverted, yet friendly people left their mark on the various industries that have helped Pakistan grow. It was in the 1940s when Chinese numbering in thousands, particularly Muslims, fled to the newly incepted Pakistan to avoid the communist rule and for better economic prospects. Many of them belonged to the ethnic minority, Uygurs, who were from Xinjiang or Sinkiang region (also known as Chinese Turkistan) which borders Pakistan. They primarily settled in northern Pakistan. The mid-50s saw more Chinese seeking shelter across the border in the wake of an uprising in Hotan (Khotan). The next two decades also witnessed waves of Chinese migrants. In the 1950s, a significant number of Chinese Muslims moved to Turkey when it opened doors of immigration to them, says a Chinese gentlemen requesting anonymity, Most of them were businessmen who were offered permits to run businesses as well as allowed to invest in land. The Chinese community further expanded when, during the 1980s, Pakistan became a major transit point for Uygurs going for Hajj. The temporary settlements soon found a permanent ground when a large number decided not to return to their native land. Not just them, but people studying in Egypt and Saudi Arabia also opted to make Pakistan their homeland, rather than return to China. Many Chinese migrants came and settled in the 80s, says a Chinese acupuncturist who prefers not to be named, Karachi was then a beautiful city. And so cheap: eggs cost two rupees a dozen and rice could be bought for three rupees a kilo. There was no danger of being looted, and there was safety for women, she reminiscences. It was only natural that a prominent segment of the Chinese community opted for dentistry since there were few dental clinics back then, especially in Karachi. Chinese, many of whom had previously worked as dental assistants in Malaysia, began working as full-time dentists. Their contribution in this regard remains evident in the number of clinics that line the road reaching to Empress Market in Saddar, Karachi, even today. Lahoris would also remember a certain Chinese dentist whose special skill was fitting people with gold teeth. Later, acupuncturists also began to make their mark. When I first came and set up business, no one knew what acupuncture meant, says the acupuncturist, People thought that I was putting some medicine on the needles to help ease the pain. They would tell me, Why dont you give these needles to us, and well do the treatment at home? I came to Pakistan 30 years ago because one of my relatives was suffering from paralysis, and I had to treat her, she continues, My aunt persuaded me to stay back here since compared to China, the salaries were better here and the lifestyle overall was cheaper. Eventually, I was able to build a decent clientele, although of late, business is not so good, courtesy the law and order situation. Then there were the shoemakers; prominent among them were Hopson and Kingson in Lahore. Both were known for their exceptional handiwork and maintained high standards of quality. The textile industry of Pakistan also owes a lot to the Chinese community. Besides the fact that there were silk traders crossing the border long before independence, they also helped in setting up textile factories in the 60s and the 70s. Their invaluable contribution during the infant industrial stage was the stepping stone that gave way to future projects. My grandfather and a few others were pioneers in this field, says Arif Shah, a Chinese descendant from his maternal side of the family, As engineers, they helped with the setting up of machinery besides working in the capacity of advisers. When it comes to the food industry of Pakistan, none can deny the conspicuous presence of Chinese restaurants peppered across the country. One of the first such outlets was ABC Chinese restaurant located in Saddar, Karachi, and a favourite with gourmets. Founded by a certain Li Dianxian in 1930s, ABC was patronised by Zhou Enlai, the first premier of the

Peoples Republic of China. Unfortunately, it closed shop in 1988. South China Caf was another example that served to packed halls. Restaurant goers of the bygone days would also fondly remember Hong Kong restaurant on Victoria road. Pricier than other Chinese outlets, it continued to give competition to its contemporaries until it, too, died out. There were others too, like Hakka at Gurumandir and Four Seasons at Hotel Metropole. Each one of them, however, left behind a legacy and laid the foundation for numerous Chinese outlets that have sprung up in the country and the cuisine continues to delight the foodies. There were, of course, salons run by Chinese women, especially at Tariq Road. Yet, a lot of the culture has died out in recent years. Most Chinese have either passed away, migrated to the West, or have returned to China. Many point towards the deteriorating law and order situation as the main culprit, while few address economics as the reason for this shift. Whatever the reasons may be, the fact remains that the Chinese contribution towards Pakistans growth will continue to shine.

Pakistan relying too much on China against US

Reuters | 2nd August, 2011

Islamabad makes no secret of its preference for China over the United States as a military patron, calling Beijing an all-weather ally in contrast to Washington's supposedly fickle friendship. - File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistans quick response to charges by China that militants involved in attacks in Xinjiang had trained on its soil shows the importance of its ties with Beijing, but it could be a mistake for Islamabad if it relies too much on China.
Pakistan immediately dispatched Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, director general of Pakistans powerful InterServices Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, to Beijing after militants mounted a weekend attack that left 11 people dead in the western region of Xinjiang, according to media reports. While the ISI declined to confirm the trip, Western diplomats and Pakistani analysts agreed that the attacks would likely be at the top of any agenda. We cannot allow Pakistani territory to be used for any activities against any neighbour, especially a close ally like China, said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute.

There are strong ties between Pakistan and China, and we are cooperating closely on this issue. Pashas speedy trip was a clear sign of Pakistans priorities. The United States rarely gets that level of cooperation when it presses Pakistan on militants operating in its border regions. American officials for years said al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, killed in a US raid in Pakistan in May, was hiding in the country. Pakistan often responded with demands for specific, actionable intelligence before it would consider investigating. Islamabad makes no secret of its preference for China over the United States as a military patron, calling Beijing an all-weather ally in contrast to Washingtons supposedly fickle friendship. The Pakistani foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday extending full support to China. China is a major investor in predominantly Muslim Pakistan in areas such as telecommunications, ports and infrastructure. The countries are linked by a Chinese-built road pushed through Pakistans northern mountains. Trade with Pakistan is worth almost $9 billion a year for Pakistan, and China is its top arms supplier. But all that matters only up to a point. Pakistan wants to play its own game by creating a front against the United States, said Hasan Askari-Rizvi, an independent political analyst. That will not happen. Now China has the same complaint which the United States has with Pakistan. Barry Sautman, a professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said that China, like the United States, wanted Pakistan to help it control Islamist militancy. But it is frustrated by the chaotic nature of Pakistani governance, and its inability to control militants or militant-friendly elements in its security agencies. I would think the Chinese government would want to have its military and security apparatus liaise with Pakistani authorities to come up with a common plan, but the US found that very difficult to do, he said. And I am sure China will find it difficult as well. Furthermore, Pakistans usefulness to China is only in South Asia, where it competes with India. But China has global ambitions; it is unlikely to sacrifice them for an ally that has proved a headache to the United States, which has its own deep relationship with China. Being seen to take a provocative stand alongside Pakistan comes at a substantial cost, but provides little strategic benefit, Urmila Venugopalan, an independent analyst and former Asia editor at Janes Intelligence Review, wrote last month in Foreign Policy. China, he wrote, does not want to push India deeper into the American orbit. An escalation in Chinese aid to Pakistan would surely antagonise India, creating a new point of friction in the triangular relationship between Beijing, New Delhi, and Washington. China has also shown no sign that it is willing to shoulder some of the financial burden of propping up Pakistan that the United States has so far been willing to bear. In 2008, when Pakistan was suffering a balance of payments crisis and sought Chinas support to avoid turning to the International Monetary Fund and its restrictive terms on a $7.5 billion loan, China provided only $500 million.

China may share concerns over Pakistans stability, Venugopalan writes, but it has preferred to let Americans bear the costs of improving the countrys security. Pakistans attempts to play China off the United States will ultimately backfire, analysts say. Although important, Pakistan is not the most important issue for Beijing and Washington. It is our misunderstanding if we think that we will team up with China if we are pressed by the United States, Rizvi said. China and the United States have their own relations and they cannot compromise them for the sake of Pakistan.

Growing China-Pak ties worry India

From the Newspaper | 22nd May, 2011

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) during a ceremony at the PakistanChina Friendship Center in Islamabad on December 18, 2010. AFP Photo / Aamir Qureshi

NEW DELHI: India views with serious concern growing defence ties between China and Pakistan and says it will have to bolster its own military capabilities to meet the challenge.
It is a matter of serious concern for us. The main thing is we have to increase our capability that is the only answer, Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters here on Friday night. The comments followed reports that China planned to accelerate supply of 50 new JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat jets to Pakistan under a co-production pact. Mr Antony alleged that safe havens for militants in Pakistan was another main concern for New Delhi and asked Islamabad to disband and destroy all guerilla outfits if it sincerely wanted to improve relations with India. Mr Antony declined to comment on remarks by senior Indian military leaders that India had the capability to launch a strike like the one the US carried out in Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India will not undertake such a strike.

But a leaked diplomatic cable published earlier in the week quoted Indias home minister as saying in 2009 that India would have to respond to another attack on its soil by Pakistan-based militants.AFP

China agrees to run Gwadar port

By Kalbe Ali | From the Newspaper | 22nd May, 2011

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, left, is welcomed by Chinese President Hu Jintao for a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Friday, May 20, 2011. Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said on Saturday that China had acceded to Pakistans request to take over operations of the Gwadar port as soon as the agreement with the Singapore Port Authority expired.
The minister, who had accompanied the prime minister during his visit to China, issued a statement to press about the development. But the statement was silent on an important point: whether China will wait till 2047 for taking over the port. According to the concession agreement between Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and PSAI-AKD group, signed on Feb 6, 2007, the arrangement will be valid for 40 years. Under the agreement, the Gwadar Port Authority receives revenues from consortium of PSAI-AKD. Mr Mukhtar said Pakistan was grateful to the Chinese government for building the Gwadar port. However, we shall be more grateful to the Chinese if they agree to build naval base at Gwadar. Gwadar, the countrys third port after Karachi and Port Qasim, lies on the Arabian Sea. It is 533kms from Karachi and 120kms from the maritime frontier with Iran. FRIGATES: Ahmad Mukhtar said that during meetings with Chinese officials, he had discussed important strategic and economic matters. Pakistan requested for frigates of 4,400 tons on credit basis. We also requested the Chinese to train our personnel in running submarines.

According to Mr Mukhtar, the prime minister also asked his counterpart, Wen Jiabao, to consider inducting the JF-17 Thunder aircraft into the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) fleet as it would enable Pakistan to sell a large number of the planes to other countries. The Chinese government had agreed to our request to equip our air force with FC-20 aircraft, the minister added. He also said Islamabad had asked Beijing to convey a message to Washington that our sovereignty be respected. The Chinese government assured us of help in removing hurdles in the way of Pakistans progress, the defence minister said.