Andrew Small has given an impressive account of friendship
of India’s two most powerful neighbors. China and Pakistan known as all-weather
friends but over the years this relation has also not escaped trouble. Based on eight chapters this book narrates the
historical background of China Pakistan relations. Moreover issues related to nuclear development
and cooperation between China and Pakistan is addressed in great detail. A comprehensive
study of India’s concern over the years regarding China is highlighted.
China-Pak axis in the region has always alarmed Indian foreign policy makers as
it changes the flux of strategic imperatives for India.
China sees itself as a significant player in the region
and globally at large. It wants a hand in Afghanistan’s stability and in recent
days has also taken keen interest in negotiations with the Taliban. China sees
the Uighur population in China’s Xijiang province as a threat to its stability
as evidence very well suggests that terrorist elements are involved in
radicalizing the population.
Furthermore the Karakoram Highway and its importance are
also mentioned by the author. China has strategic ambitions that stretch all
the way from Xiajing to the Middle East. The One Belt One Road initiative of
China is a manifestation of these strategic objectives. CPEC, a segment of this
grand project is about including Pakistan in the vital scheme and providing for
its infrastructure development. The author believes that like the Karakoram
Highway, Gwadar has never been completely viewed as a commercial plan rather it
has strategic and political ambitions.
The main explanations given for OBOR include outsourcing of
extra Chinese industrial capital by giant Chinese companies; build markets for
Chinese products, promote development in China’s western regions, provide alternate
maritime transportation routes for China and lastly increase China’s influence in
areas where there is little resistance from United States.
