Posted on 10/11/2001 9:22:54 PM PDT by Brian_Baldwin
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR AIR DEFENCE STUDIES
The history of friendly relations between Pakistan and China is long and unique. Pakistan was only two years old when on October 1, 1949, China was proclaimed a People's Republic by the late Chairman Mao Tse-tung at a huge public rally in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. At that time we were faced with many grave threats to our very existence. Living in an uneasy peace with a hostile India, we did not lose much time in extending diplomatic recognition to the new revolutionary regime in our neighbourhood.
The most significant aspect of the relationship between the two countries during the early years was that while chants of "Hindi-Cheeni Bhai Bhai" were frequently raised in India in the fifties, the Chinese did not make any move towards India which might have annoyed or irritated Pakistan. This has been a singularly impressive demonstration of the profound wisdom, tolerance and farsightedness of the Chinese leadership. Their policy was based on their deep ethical philosophy underlying the entire state-craft, politics and international relations of the new Chinese regime.
After the Indian invasion of Pakistan on September 6, 1965, when China issued a historic ultimatum to India which was tantamount to a threat of opening a second front against it, China overnight became the best and most trusted friend of Pakistan. It was as if a deluge of affection had engulfed our people. By that one noble gesture at that moment of crisis, China won the hearts of the people of Pakistan for all times to come. It was also followed by immense material aid from China in various fields of our national development.
Another landmark in our relations was the smooth demarcation of the boundary between Pakistan and China. The agreement related to the hitherto undefined 300 miles frontier, which begins in the tri-junction of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sinkiang in north-west China and runs in a south-easterly direction up to the Karakoram Pass. This area comprises the valley of Opran and Darband Darvaza Pocket, including its salt-mines. The boundary was not only defined but was also marked on two maps, one of China and the other Pakistani. The two maps were needed because of significant differences between the Pakistani version (based on British surveys) and the Chinese cartographic data of the boundary zone.
Laying down some geographical principles to form the basis of boundary alignment, the two parties agreed that wherever the line follows a river the middle line of the river bed shall be the boundary. Wherever the boundary passes through a pass, the water parting line (watershed) thereof shall form the boundary line. The agreement was signed in Beijing on March 2, 1963.
The agreement made it clear that Pakistan has not ceded to China any portion of the territory under its control. Instead, Pakistan obtained 1,350 square miles which were actually in China's possession, while China obtained 2,050 square miles. Thus by this agreement Pakistan obtained 750 square miles of territory beyond the watershed of the Karakoram range, which had been in China's possession and administration for centuries. Pakistan thus gained strategic watershed area and the Karachin salt mines. China also ceded to Pakistan the Opran Valley and the salt mines above the Darwan to the east of Shimsal Pass. The K-2 peak to which China at one time laid claim continues to be in Pakistan's domain and has been recognized by China as being within Pakistani territory. Moreover, the boundary alignment which the British had accepted since the First World War and which, with the small exception of the Karachukar Valley, they had proposed to China in 1899, was also recognised by China. By this agreement China denied itself the opportunities for the future to raise any claim over Hunza and Nagar States which had been paying regular annual tribute to the Chinese government and recognised its supremacy over them for a long time. Pakistan's claim to the east of the Muztagh river was upheld in the agreement, while farther in the east, where the Bardun river joins the Muztagh and to the south of Karakoram watershed, Pakistan gave up its claim to the territory.
The Chinese in settling the boundary question with Pakistan showed tremendous goodwill and understanding. This agreement fully and totally safeguarded the interests of Pakistan as can be easily judged from the gains which Pakistan made through this deal. Even the US state department is on record saying that the agreement serves the interests of Pakistan. Similarly, most of the British newspapers expressed themselves in favour of the agreement and some even voiced the opinion that the terms of the Sino-Pakistan border agreement constituted a triumph in diplomacy for Pakistan, and that Pakistan made quite an impressive deal.
Pakistan's national airline, the PIA, was the first foreign airline to be allowed by the Chinese government to operate between China and the outside world. This monopoly of traffic and cargo to the PIA brought us huge profits which naturally generated envy in many other countries. The agreement to this effect was signed in Beijing on August 29, 1963. The Taxila Heavy Mechanical Complex and the Industrial Tools Factory at Landhi near Karachi, also stand out as great monuments of China's solid friendship with Pakistan.
China has consistently and forcefully supported Pakistan's stand on Kashmir. And, lest we forget, it was China alone which was responsible for the repatriation of our more than 90,000 army and civilian personnel from the Indian internment camps where they were held till April 30, 1974, after the fall of Dacca on December 1, 1971. As a new member of the UN Security Council, China made it clear to the whole world that, unless every single Pakistani was repatriated from the Indian camps, it would block the admission of Bangladesh as a member of the United Nations. This unbending Chinese attitude forced both India and Bangladesh to relent and agree to the release all prisoners of war. This was one of the noblest gestures of friendship which China made to redeem the honour of Pakistan.
The beautiful big chandelier hanging over the grave of the founder of Pakistan in Karachi is Beijing's tribute to our great leader which will continue reminding our future generations of China's reverence and affection for the Quaid.
The romantic silk route, officially known as "Karakorum Highway", is a monumental feat of construction jointly achieved by Chinese and Pakistani engineers and workers. They pierced through the heart of the great Karakoram range to build the road which now unites the two people.
Recently, when India tested its nuclear devices in the Pokhran desert in May, it was China alone which categorically and unequivocally condemned India for starting a nuclear race in South Asia, while all big western powers remained quiet or lukewarm in their condemnation.
With such a long history of close bilateral relations, the ties of friendship between Pakistan and China are indissoluble and so long as water flows down the Indus and the Yangtse rivers this friendship will last.
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