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Journalism of Courage
For a half century,China and Pakistan have been all-weather strategic partners. Thats not to describe China-Pakistan ties from the outsiders perspective. Those are words reiterated through Chinese Premier Wen Jiabaos address to the Pakistani parliament on Sunday. While that warmth does not surprise,whats new is the changed context of Kashmir in Chinas dealings with New Delhi and Islamabad. Wen absolved Pakistan of the flak it has been facing,particularly from the US and India,for the terror machinery on its soil. Yet,from an objective point of view,as well as that of Pakistans and Chinas neighbour India,Wen is sailing against the current. In India,he has been distinctly banal on terrorism,refusing to address Delhis concerns about terror emanating from Pakistan. Whereas,in Islamabad,hes lavished praise on Pakistan,claiming that Pakistan is doing everything right,notwithstanding the global consensus that it needs to do much more.
Meanwhile,Pakistan and China have sealed almost 35 billion in state contracts and private-sector deals to boost trade and economic ties. Of course,China-Pakistan bilateral trade is a small fraction of the China-India volume; nor can anybody have a case against Pakistans economic growth. However,what cannot be missed behind the energy and infrastructure compact is Chinas attempt to speedily integrate Pakistan with its western region,economically and strategically. And China looks to soon have its own road access to the Arabian Sea on Pakistans coast through the ceded territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
