O P Modi
With India friendly Nawaz Sharif taking over as Prime Minister of Pakistan tables have turned 180 degrees against China. Hitherto Pakistan had been a trusted ally of China. There is no doubt Sharif has not one but a number of stupendous tasks before him. However, his sagacious ability and diplomatic acumen should enable him to defeat whatever hurdles presently there are in Pakistan’s safety and progress.
China has been playing double role in Pakistan. Beijing’s involvement in several rail projects in Pakistan is motivated primarily by commercial considerations. A reliable rail and road network can only ensure China’s access to energy-rich central Asia. The rail link with Chinese border to Gwadar Port which is located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and is at the mouth of the Parisian Gulf, approximately 460 km (290 mi) West of Karachi 75 km (47 mi) East of Pakistan’s border with Iran and 380 km (240 mi) km northeast of the nearest point in Oman across the Arabian Sea. It is situated on the eastern bay of a natural hammerhead-shaped Peninsula protruding into the Arabian Sea from the coastline.
Gwadar Port is situated near the strategic Strait of Horniz and it is a busy trading and oil shipping station. The surrounding region is home to around two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves. It was no favour to Pakistan as the entire project serves China’s commercial and geo-political interests. It has been transporting cheap commercial goods made in China to Gulf countries by rail and carrying back crude oil. Obliviously it is not going to be easy for Sharif’s Government to dislodge China and yet one day jointly with United States, India and South Eastern countries besides Japan it would certainly be possible to do so.
However, the major issue at stake is to counter the most dangerous steps that China has already taken. It has built eleven dams over Brahamputra to completely divert the river to its parched lands. Brahamputra is the life sustaining source for millions of Indians and Bangladeshis. Not only that almost all other rivers that serve India Pakistan and Bangladesh are being diverted. These are Indus, Chenab, Ihelum, Ravi, Sutluj and Beas. China has built dams not only on Brahamputra it plans to construct a number of dams to divert other rivers and also one on Arun(Kosi) which augments Ganges. China has blatantly stated that it does not believe in water sharing regimen
How best Chinese growing clout be countered which is not only shameful but inhuman too? The answer is by hitting back where it would hurt them the most. At present on the average China exports to India goods worth 412 billion dollars per month. India should completely stop importing goods from China and start buying from South Eastern countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea etc. That would certainly teach a lesson to China. South Korea in particular, besides being a reliable supplier of quality electronic products is having friendly relations with India. Similarly Pakistan should act in a manner so as to express its displeasure against China.
Japan and China are witnessing deep animosity over Senkaku Islands. Japan considers these islands as part of its territory. It would hit back if the Chinese try to land there. Trilateral ties between Japan, India and United States would go a long way in sending a strong warning to China.
An effective measure that India can take against China’s inhuman intention of depriving billions of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis of water for their farms and daily consumption would be to approach the United Nations Security Council, (of which Pakistan is at present one of the temporary members), so that by a Security Council resolution China is forced to abandon its nefarious design.
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