News Report: China Has Reason to be Jittery About Indo-Japanese Geniality

Experts are optimistic that the counterweight presented by increased Indian and Japanese cooperation may make China more sensitive to international norms.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The grand hospitality extended by India to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the kick-starting of ambitious long-term joint projects and the trilateral talks of foreign ministers of India, Japan and the US on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, have clearly ruffled China's feathers, with its media mincing no words in deploring the India-Japan bonhomie.

Experts in international relations keeping a close watch on the developments say China has strong reasons to be uneasy about developments between India and Japan over the past month.

"China surely has to worry about India and Japan coming closer. Both Japan and India have been historically suspicious of China's intentions. These anxieties have been reinforced by recent Chinese behavior," professor Swaran Singh of the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University told Sputnik.

News Report: China, Russia, India Intensify Role in Afghanistan to Fight Homegrown Militants

Saibal Dasgupta

BEIJING — A decision by the BRICS nations to name and denounce specific terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere is sparking debate among academics and analysts in China.

Earlier this month, the group, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, extended their support to Kabul’s counterterrorism efforts during a meeting in China. The move caused some nervousness in Islamabad, forcing Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif to first visit Beijing and then fly to Tehran, canvassing support for his country.

This was the first time China had publicly denounced Pakistan-based terror groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, which had earlier been censured by the United Nations Security Council. Islamabad had reasons to worry about a possible change in Beijing’s attitude, particularly at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened to cut off aid if Pakistan did not change its approach to terrorism.

News Report: Pakistani PM Offers Joint Patrols With Afghanistan

Ayesha Tanzeem

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s prime minister has offered “joint patrols" and "joint posts" with Afghanistan as a means of bi-lateral verification of action taken against terrorist groups or their sanctuaries.

“Whatever it takes to fight terrorism ... Pakistan is totally open to that,” Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said while briefing foreign journalists Tuesday in Islamabad.

The details of the bi-lateral verification methods could be worked out at the operational level, he said. But Abbasi insisted Afghanistan in turn needed to do more to fight terrorism against Pakistan.

“If you want statistics, there is much more happening across the border from Afghanistan than anything that happens from Pakistan into Afghanistan."

Previously, Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed on coordinated, complementary operations on their respective sides of border. Pakistan has repeatedly faced criticism that it is sheltering militants who planned or carried out attacks inside Afghanistan. 

News Story: China, Pakistan agree to strengthen security cooperation

BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Pakistan agreed to strengthen anti-terrorism and security cooperation along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The agreement was reached when Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Pakistani National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua Friday in Beijing.

Hailing Pakistan's efforts in counter-terrorism, Meng called for strengthened anti-terrorism and security cooperation in the building of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"China and Pakistan, as good friends, friendly neighbors and all-weather strategic cooperative partners, have always firmly supported each other's core interests," Meng said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Cause of Friction - Why Pakistan Has Chosen China Over the US

The cooperation between the US and Pakistan has recently been put to the test as Donald Trump accused Islamabad of supporting terrorists. In response, the Pakistani authorities canceled a planned visit by a representative of the State Department. Sputnik attempts to identify the real reason behind the fall out between the two long-term allies?

On August 21, during a speech at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, US President Donald Trump announced Washington's readiness to change its approach to relations with Islamabad if the Pakistani side continues to support terrorists.

“The next pillar of our new strategy is to change the approach in how to deal with Pakistan. We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe-havens for terrorist organizations,” Trump said.

Such a direct accusation of sponsoring terrorism provoked Islamabad's response, and the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said that the criticism from US President Donald Trump is disappointing.

News Report: Attack on Security Forces' Convoy in Pakistan Kills 3 Soldiers

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Unknown gunmen in southwestern Pakistan ambushed a security forces' convoy, killing at least three soldiers and injuring three others Monday.

Local authorities said the convoy of the paramilitary Frontier Corps was returning from a counterinsurgency operation when it was attacked in the remote Panjgur district of Baluchistan province.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the deadly assault.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has "strongly" condemned the attack and "expressed grief over loss of precious lives of [Frontier Corps] officials," his office said in a statement.

News Report: China Affirms Alliance with Pakistan After Trump Says Islamabad Abets Terrorists

China’s top diplomat told his American counterpart that the United States must respect Pakistani sovereignty and security concerns as they pertain to Afghanistan or else endanger “peace and stability,” reports Chinese state media.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had a phone conversation on Wednesday with Yang Jiechi, China's state councilor of overseas foreign affairs. Yang, who outranks the Chinese foreign minister, defended Pakistan after US President Donald Trump claimed that it "often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror" during a Monday speech.

Trump called Pakistan a "valued partner" whose "contributions and sacrifices" against terrorism were to be commended. However, Trump went on to say, "Pakistan has also sheltered the same organizations that try every single day to kill our people. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting."

China came to its ally's defense during the Tillerson/Yang call. "We must value Pakistan's important role on the Afghanistan issue, and respect Pakistan's sovereignty and reasonable security concerns," Yang reportedly said.

News Story: Pakistan to firmly support China on core interests - foreign secretary

BEIJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan firmly supports China on issues concerning its core interests, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said when meeting with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Beijing Monday.

During their meeting, Yang said it is especially important for China and Pakistan to enhance strategic communication under current global and regional circumstances.

He called on both sides to maintain close high-level contacts, promote the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative, forge ahead cooperation in different areas and intensify coordination in multi-lateral organizations such as the United Nations and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to a press release issued after the meeting.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: India Wary of More Chinese Presence in Kashmir Through Dam Projects

India has strong reservations against the string of projects undertaken by China in the Kashmir region under the Belt and Road Initiative. Addition of a project as big as the Indus Cascade to that list is likely to lead to more protests from India and to raise tension in the region.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India has termed the collaboration between Pakistan and China in the construction of six dams over the Indus River in Kashmir region as "illegal collaborative activity." China is investing around $50 billion for the construction of these dams that form part of the North Indus Cascade that would generate up to 40000 MW of hydro electricity for Pakistan's consumption.

"India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that any collaborative activity there is in violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said in Parliament.

News Story: For Pakistanis, China 'friendship' road runs one way

By Ben Dooley

The China-Pakistan Friendship Highway runs over 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) from the far western Chinese city of Kashgar through the world's highest mountain pass and across the border.

For China, the two-lane thoroughfare symbolises a blossoming partnership, nourished with tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure investment.

But for many Pakistani businessmen living and working on the Chinese side of the border, the road is a one way street.

"China says our friendship is as high as the Himalayas and as deep as the sea, but it has no heart," said Pakistani businessman Murad Shah, as he tended his shop in Tashkurgan, 120 kilometres from the mountain pass where trucks line up to cross between China's vast Xinjiang region and Pakistan.

"There is no benefit for Pakistan. It's all about expanding China's growth," Shah said, as he straightened a display of precious stones.

The remote town of around 9,000 is at the geographic heart of Beijing's plans to build a major trade artery -- the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -- connecting Kashgar to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar.

The project is a crown jewel of China's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, a massive global infrastructure programme to revive the ancient Silk Road and connect Chinese companies to new markets around the world.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Report: Pakistan Defiant as US Ponders South Asia Strategy

Natalie Liu

Days after the Pentagon announced it is withholding $50 million intended for Pakistan as part of its Coalition Support Fund, the South Asian country's ambassador hinted at potential retaliation, possibly coaxing Washington to negotiate access to the country's air corridors, which Islamabad suggests have been taken for granted.

Pakistan is ready to cooperate with the United States, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said, though Washington may now end up having to negotiate with Islamabad on the corridors and other tangible assets, he added.

"All that Pakistan has done in the fight against terrorism has not been sufficiently factored" into the U.S. decision to reduce its support funds, Chaudhry lamented during a discussion this week at the Washington office of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

News Report: China's Silk Road Unlikely to Derail India-Japan Relations

China's "One Belt, One Road" [OBOR or Silk Road]
(Click Image to Enlarge)

Amid speculations that Japan could jump on China’s "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) bandwagon, Indian experts project a grim possibility of such venture.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — A meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hamburg, Germany this weekend triggered speculation that Japan could be joining OBOR ["One Belt, One Road"] — China’s trade and development strategy that focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries via land and sea.

The Japan News quoted Prime Minister Abe as saying “It (OBOR) has potential. We hope the initiative will contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity by adopting ideas held by all in the international community. We want to cooperate in that respect.”

This statement was widely construed as an affirmation of Japan’s desire to participate in the Chinese with the intent of reaping dividends for its domestic companies as well as to gain a voice within a big-ticket project. It was also seen as Japan’s tactical pressure on the US as a key ally joining a Chinese-led initiative could force President Donald Trump to reconsider his stance on withdrawing from the Asia-Pacific region.

News Report: India Asserts Readiness to Hold Talks With Pakistan on Kashmir Issue

India has said it is open to holding talks with Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue under a bilateral framework, a day after Beijing offered to play a "constructive" role between the two countries.

Without naming Pakistan, India's Ministry of External Affairs said the central issue in the ongoing crisis is cross-border terrorism emanating from a particular country.

"Our [position] is absolutely clear. You are aware that the heart of the matter is cross-border terrorism emanating from a particular country that threatens peace and stability in the country, region, and the world. We are ready to have a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir under a bilateral framework," Gopal Baglay, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, said at his weekly media briefing in New Delhi.

China had on Wednesday expressed concern over the mounting tension between India and Pakistan.

News Report: Chinese Expert Rakes Up Kashmir Issue Amid the Current Standoff With India

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could intervene in Kashmir at Pakistan’s behest, using the same rationale India has given to act on behalf of Bhutan, a Chinese expert has said. Indian experts said China is already invested in the Pakistan side of Kashmir in the Belt & Road Initiative.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — A leading Chinese expert has written in the state-run Global Times that India's logic of intervening in the Doklam area dispute to defend Bhutan opens an opportunity for China to enter Kashmir, should Pakistan request it.

"Even if India were requested to defend Bhutan's territory, this could only be limited to its established territory, not the disputed area. Otherwise, under India's logic, if the Pakistani government requests, a third country's Army can enter the area disputed by India and Pakistan, including India-controlled Kashmir," Long Xingchun, Director at the Centre for Indian Studies at China West Normal University, wrote in an article in the Global Times.

News Report: Once a US Ally, Pakistan Now Looks to China, Russia

Paul Alexander and Noor Zahid

WASHINGTON — Once a key ally in the U.S. war on terrorism, Pakistan finds itself increasingly isolated from Washington amid allegations that it harbors more than a dozen terrorist groups. Instead, it has been steadily cozying up to China and Russia.

Both of America’s primary rivals have been taking advantage of Pakistan’s paranoia about India, and gaps in Washington’s global influence as President Donald Trump continues to form his foreign policy in the strategic region.

Pakistan’s relations with three of its four neighbors — Afghanistan, India and Iran — are at a low point. And instead of trying to rein in extremism, the government appears to be feeding the growing conservative movement with no sign of backing off a controversial blasphemy law that has led to repeated mob violence.

Experts say 13 of the approximately 60 U.S.-designated global terrorist organizations are based in Pakistan, mostly in the tribal region that borders Afghanistan.

Major militant groups include the Pakistani Taliban and the Haqqani Network, along with Laskar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Jundullah. And despite denials that Islamic State has a presence in the country, the terror group has claimed responsibility for recent attacks there.

Two U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation last September to designate Pakistan a terror state over its inability to curb homegrown militancy and the threat it poses to its neighbors. Republicans Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher accused Pakistan of harboring global terrorist leaders and supporting terror groups, including the Haqqani Network, which targets Afghan and U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan.

News Story: Pakistan PM hails Pak-China strategic ties

ISLAMABAD, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed satisfaction over the status of all-weather strategic partnership with China, the launch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Pakistan's membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Speaking at the foreign ministry, the prime minister appreciated China's role for improving Pak-Afghan relations, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Friday.

Sharif visited the ministry the day to undertake a comprehensive review of Pakistan's foreign policy priorities in the wake of the recent developments in and around Pakistan and the emerging global and regional scenarios.

"The Prime Minister appreciated China's role for improving Pak-Afghan relations and also recalled his recent meeting with President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of SCO Summit and their agreement to evolve a bilateral and quadrilateral mechanism for controlling cross-border terrorism," the statement said.

He directed the ministry to prepare initiatives on Afghanistan and also on building economic and trade linkages to promote Pakistan's development.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Pakistan deploys 15,000-strong force for Chinese security

Pakistan has deployed a 15,000-strong military force to protect Chinese nationals working on energy and infrastructure projects in the country, the president said Sunday, after the abduction of a Chinese couple raised safety concerns.

President Mamnoon Hussain told visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Islamabad that the protection of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan was the "top priority" of the government, according to a statement issued by the presidency.

Beijing is investing around $50 billion in its South Asian neighbour as part of a plan unveiled in 2015 to link its far-western Xinjiang region to Gwadar port in Balochistan with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades.

But fears over safety arose last month when two Chinese workers were abducted in Quetta, the capital of the southwestern Balochistan province, which is at the heart of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project but racked by separatist and Islamist insurgencies.

Read the full story at SpaceWar

News Story: China, Pakistan to stand by each other on their core interests - FM

ISLAMABAD, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Sunday that China and Pakistan will firmly stand together to continuously support each other on their core interests and issues of major concern so as to safeguard their legitimate interests as well as regional peace and stability.

Wang made the remarks during a joint press conference with Pakistani top foreign affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz before concluding his two-day visit to Pakistan.

The foreign minister said during his visit here, the two sides conducted strategic communications and deepened strategic consensus, which are conducive to the further development of the bilateral all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

Wang highlighted the smooth development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying it has gained important early achievements which brought tangible benefits to Pakistani people, adding that China will work together with the Pakistani side to push forward the construction of CPEC.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Islamabad Eyes New Chinese Naval Base in Pakistan as US, Saudi Influence Wanes

Chinese Navy Warships on Patrol (File Photo)

Pakistan is renewing a 2011 call to the People’s Liberation Army Navy to construct and operate a naval base on its coast, according to a Pakistani diplomat.

Islamabad needs an “equalizer” against India, the emissary noted in comments published at the Asia Times. “Previously, it was the US and Saudi Arabia… Now, it’s China,” he said.

A recent report prepared by the Pentagon signals Washington is growing concerned with the activities of the world’s largest army and burgeoning naval fleet. The US Defense Department anticipates that diplomatic chatter may materialize in the form of an actual base, perhaps in Gwadar Port in Balochistan, a trading hub Beijing seeks to develop with investment as part of the One Belt initiative.

Jiwani and Ormara are also said to be potential sites for a new navy base. 

News Report: India, China Seek to Enforce Bilateral Strategic Ties

Carrying forward the spirit of cooperation achieved during the Modi-Xi meeting in Astana, India’s deputy external affairs minister V.K. Singh met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in Beijing over the weekend.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Singh and Yi discussed steps to enhance bilateral strategic ties and dialogue to build upon the spirit of cooperation achieved during the meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on June 8-9.

“President Xi and PM Modi have laid down directions for us and both the countries to proceed with a path of mutual respect, mutual cooperation on how to improve the existing mechanisms so that more trade, commerce, and people-to-people contacts can take place. We both are Asian neighbors, two growing economies, people with ancient relations, we mark the path for others to follow. India looks forward to strengthening and deepening its strategic partnership and mutual dialogue with China," PTI quoted Singh as saying after his meeting with Yi.

Singh is in Beijing to attend the meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers to finalize the agenda for this year’s summit in September to be held in China’s Xiamen city.