A Joint Seminar of NDU - National Defence University

Speaker 2: Amb Khalid Mahmood
Afghanistan, Indo-US Strategic Partnership, importance of commercial and
bilateral and regional relationship has been emphasized during the previous
presentations. Politico-economic factor has a direct impact on peace building and
development in the region. Pakistan US relations have been forged in particular set of
cold war environment. Pakistan stood as a firm ally in CENTO and SEATO. On the
Asian region, China also emerged as an isolated and less developed state. Despite
difference Pakistan and China were able to find common grounds of cooperation. The
Sino-Soviet rift, Détente between USSR-US, 1962 Sino-India war changed the
perception of China’s strategic thinking. These developments brought convergence of
interests and threat perceptions between Pakistan and China. The hardware sale to
Pakistan opened the window for China to non-communist world.
Historically tested friendship is hallmark of good relationship between two
ideologically different states. However, China strongly adhere the principle of peaceful
cooperation. Today, the world has completely transformed. In this new world China is a
world power along with other nascent actors. Russia, Japan and India are enjoying
robust relations with China. New challenges also emerged such as terrorism, separatist
movements, energy crisis etc.
Shadows of threat and conspiracy are looming on South Asia, East Asia and
West Asia. The US is present in the region at Darwin where US marines are virtually
present, in Afghanistan and in forging of Trans-Pacific Territorial disputes at South
China Sea. On North Korea nuclear program, US and China have different views which
fuels the tension between them. In Afghanistan, by 2014, the planned withdrawal seems
impossible in the wake of recent developments. Plus incidents such as, the wanton
killing of Afghans, burning of Quran and frequent humiliations of Afghans have provided
the fuel to hatred against foreign troops present in Afghanistan.
In South Asia, US is deepening its ties with India for containing China. India is
aliening its policy with US on Iran and other issues. China and India still have Tibet
border issue. In post withdrawal Iraq, the capacity of Iraq is severely constrained. In
Central Asia, China and Russia are able to found common grounds of cooperation.
SCO may not be like NATO, but would possibly be a bulwark for future intruders. In
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