Pakistan's "all-weather" friendship with China dates back to the 1960s, forged over a common adversary: India. Beijing supplied fighter jets, drones, and even nuclear technology, while consistently shielding Pakistan at global forums like the UN and FATF.
The crown jewel was the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under Belt and Road Initiative—a promised $60 billion game-changer for jobs and growth. Yet, it has flopped bitterly. Projects yielded no significant employment, sparked Baloch resistance, and trapped Pakistan in "debt-trap diplomacy."
China now holds over $27 billion in loans, more than IMF, World Bank, and ADB combined, with most repayments going toward interest amid non-viable infrastructure.
Desperate for cash, Pakistan has repeatedly turned to the IMF, securing bailouts thrice—but these come with strings attached, often requiring US backing. Historically, the US-Pakistan relationship has been a rollercoaster of love and hate.
During the Cold War and War on Terror, Pakistan served as America's frontline ally against the Soviets and in Afghanistan, earning billions. However, sheltering Osama bin Laden exposed duplicity, eroding trust. Hillary Clinton's famous quip—"You cannot keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors"—still resonates.
Now, amid US-China economic warfare, Pakistan is flirting with Washington again. Reports suggest offers of Pasni port access near Gwadar for US military and commercial use, pitching it as a hub for Balochistan's $600 billion mineral reserves (gold, copper, rare earths).
This could give America a foothold to counter China's dominance in the Arabian Sea. Yet, Pasni's proximity to Gwadar risks direct conflict, escalating tensions and intelligence leaks.
Pakistan's hypocrisy is glaring: publicly criticizing US policies while attending Moscow Format with China, Russia, and Iran; privately extending olive branches to Washington.
This "hedging" mirrors past mistakes but in a broke nation's context, it's suicidal. As one expert notes, "When you're broke, you can't afford to anger your creditors"—and China pulls the purse strings.
The fallout? Eroding trust from both sides. China views Pakistan's US overtures as betrayal; America sees deep Beijing ties as unreliability. This could lead to geopolitical isolation, internal instability (military-driven "democracy"), and full economic collapse.
For India, implications are profound: Chabahar port forms a triangular contest with Gwadar-Pasni, potentially turning the region into a proxy warfare zone, boosting India's Middle East ties while Pakistan loses relevance.
Pakistan's story is a cautionary tale: trying to play both sides often means losing both. In this US-China rivalry era, its double game isn't strategic autonomy—it's a ticket to disaster. As Shashi Tharoor aptly put it, Pakistan is "too clever by half."
