An unfortunate incident

The News, Sun, October,24, 2004.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema



The death of a Chinese engineer is indeed an unfortunate incident. No body in Pakistan likes such incident especially if a Chinese is involved. It would not be too far fetched if I write that the entire Pakistani nation joins the Chinese to share their grief. Among the foreign nationals the Chinese are held in very high esteem.

The leadership of both countries have demonstrated a very sane and realistic attitude towards this particular incident. While President Musharraf reaffirmed Pakistan’s continuing friendship, the Chinese President also categorically stated that this incident will not be allowed to harm the cordial bilateral relations between Pakistan and China. Equally forceful was the China’s visiting state councillor in his commitment to Pakistan.

It is the firm commitment of leaders that allows the cordial relationship between Pakistan and China to flourish. Despite the dramatic changes in the international and regional environment in the post cold war world, Sino-Pak relations have not really registered any set back. Frequent assertions of mutual trust and confidence coupled with the convergence of national interests have facilitated the regular positive growth. Even the differences of the political systems have never impeded the upward trend in Sino-Pak relations.

China-Pakistan relations are often described as all weather and time-tested. Compared to Pakistan’s relations with other great powers, its relations with China have demonstrated remarkable consistency and an enviable level of cordiality.  While there seem to be many factors that have contributed so regularly towards the cementing of Sino-Pak relations, two in particular stand out. First that needs to be mentioned is Pakistan’s neighbourly policy towards China. Being a member of so many western sponsored cold war alliances, it was not an easy policy to pursue, especially when one of those alliances, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was specifically directed against China.

The second is China’s correct comprehension of India-Pakistan relations. Unlike the Soviets the Chinese were not hysterical over Pakistan’s participation in SEATO. Not only was their perception of factors intensifying Pakistan’s sense of insecurity extremely accurate, but they also correctly assessed the gravity of Pakistan’s feelings over Kashmir dispute. Perhaps Chinese are among the few nations that correctly gauged the depth of feelings the Pakistanis have for Kashmir.

Many additional factors further cemented Sino-Pakistan ties such as the Sino-Pak relations have never experienced any kind of set back from either side. Not only both countries developed complete mutual understanding but also supported each other on many major international issues. Whatever agreements they signed or evolved an understanding between them, they always lived up to the expectations of the other. Compared to China there is no dearth of western countries that have either let Pakistan down or wriggled out their commitments in one form or the other.

Strict adherence to the principle of non-interference has indeed contributed significantly towards strengthening the edifice of trust. Since the acceptance of the guiding five principles of coexistence, neither side ever tried to interfere in others domestic affairs. Again if one compares it with some of our western partners, the examples of interference in the internal affairs are not too difficult to identify. 

Perhaps the most important development cementing Sino-Pak ties revolves around people to people contacts. Founded in the 1960s and initially in Lahore, Pak-China Friendship Association has indeed played a key role in bringing the people of two countries closer to each other. Recognizing such contributions the Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji during his recent visit to Lahore specifically called for further stepping up of people to people exchanges and encouraged contacts between the non-governmental organizations and business communities.

Another factor that contributed so enormously is Chinese cooperation in developing Pakistan’s defence industry.  These deals with the help the Chinese have extended over the years in order to expand and rapidly develop our defence productions. With the Chinese collaboration Pakistan was soon able to establish Heavy Industries at Taxila, Aeronautical Complex at Kamra, upgraded and further expanded facilities at Pakistan Ordinance Factories at Wah. Bilateral relations in the defence sector are continuously strengthened by a regular exchange of military delegations.

Given the proverbial nature of Sino-Pakistan friendship, it is somewhat unthinkable that any Pakistani would pick up a Chinese for vengeance. As a matter fact when one hears of such an incident disgust sets in as no one expects that a Pakistani could undertake such a despicable act. In this case it is even more unbelievable as the Chinese engineer was only engaged in building dam which eventually be beneficial for the people of the region. Undoubtedly the death of a Chinese engineer has saddened us all.

While one fully understands that time tested relationships between Pakistan and China are unlikely to be radically altered because of such an ugly incident but as a Pakistani one must condemn such pursuits especially if it is perpetrated against the Chinese. The resolve of both Pakistan and China to fight against terrorism is unlikely to be weakened by such undesired incidents.

Pakistan has taken up a firm stance against terrorism and in this connection it has extended full cooperation to China as well as to some other countries. China is an extremely useful partner of Pakistan as it is involved in many major developmental projects such as Gawader, Chashma II nuclear power plant, Saindak and Thar coal projects etc. In addition new areas of cooperation are being explored.

In the light of this unfortunate incident, it is imperative that security measures particularly for all those foreigners working in Pakistan on various projects need to be enhanced. The foreign experts must feel absolutely secure while working in Pakistan. An insecure expert is unlikely to give his best because of haunts of insecurity. The security agencies must ensure that such incident is not repeated. As a matter of fact even the people of the region must also ensure that such incident does not reoccur. It not only brings a bad name to security agencies and the people of the region but also to a country as a whole. Therefore it is our collective responsibility to ensure the safety of gust experts and workers.