I understand where you are coming from. While I do not underestimate the Chinese friendship in terms of trade benefit for China, it can not be a true friendship until their alliance is tested on the world stage. It has been tested and like before we see China playing Pakistan against it's competition. Let's not forget they are still a communist dictatorship and highly selfish and want our nation for it's strategic benefit, no different than the US wants it now or Soviet Union wanted it before.
The Chinese in their typical style advised Pakistan to absorb Indian pressure instead of sharply deflecting it according to Sehgal, which doesn't show anything about a deep friendship to my eyes especially in the midst of what is happening, which is far more serious than Indian threats of yesterday. Now India is coming at Pakistan with global support, China's duty was to thwart some of that with it's magnificent power on the world stage but it didn't.
Sehgal also mentioned that because of China, Russia looks at us in a better light. But the friendly Russian overtures were rejected at the highest levels and continue to be neglected, and as countries like India and Iran negotiate with their enemies, Pakistan continues to act as a lackey of the US while failing to project or secure it's own interests with others.
Ultimately, the way the Chinese voted at the UN bears resemblance to this entangling bear trap alliance with the US and our muffled responses after Mumbai. They have every right to do what fits their interests best, but not at the expense of Pakistan. We are stuck between the dragon and the eagle, now the cow wants a piece too. We can't be a strategic playground for everyone, but unfortunately the reality is that we very much are.
So true. Chinese intrests lie in total and complete hegemony over the region. Only then can their strategic interests(desires) be protected. Their whole way of waging war is so surgical and bloodless - pure economic muscle - the practically run the economies now of most erstwhile iron curtain satelites :- Azhebaijan, Krgeztan, Turmenistan, Tajikistan etc. You will be surprised to know that the Han chinese have even invested heavily into Siberian Russia ! Mongolia is now in the complete clutches of China. All this by investing into infrastructure, generously offering loans, bribes and whatever serves the purpose. In return they takeover and control all the resources of the nation. Hence effectively the economy and thereby the decisions of the nation.
Their drift to Pakistan is due to the fact that it stands against India in the subcontinent. Indian ofcouse being the only nation therein which prevents total chinese domination.
As for Russian help - they yesterday informed the GOI that Dawood's network was used to ferry the extremisits
Most of the discussion with Sehgal suggests to me that he is also critical of the lack of strategy/action shown by GoP.
Bending over has never been a Pakistani response before, but since 2001 it has become etched into policy and driven deep into our psyche with a hammer. The environment is being created to where this becomes our habit. Screw up everything on the world stage, then have to resort to bloody conflicts which could have been avoided with a bit of brains/guts/patriotism. Iran has been beating away Israeli/US and global pressure for years with one hand while fighting Israel/US through proxies with the other. Can Pakistan ever dare to do this? These superpowers will only respect us when we give them a taste of their own medicine, not huddle next to China for support and be let down, nor to show that all the macho and bravado of Pakistan is actually a giant myth and we are softer than a sleeping kitten.
I can agree
Anyways, I do thank you for your response and the video Blain.
