Muhammad Zubair Iqbal
Dr. Muhammad Zubair Iqbal is Associate Professor at Bahria University, Islamabad.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: Pak-China, International politics, American interference, India, Russia, balancing act, Strategic partnership, multiple strategies stability
Abstract
Pak-China amiability is no secret in international politics. It not only serves Chinese strategic interests in the region, it also tends to counter the oft hypothesized ‘negative’ American interference in South Asia. The sub-continent is a complex region in many respects. It is home to two new nuclear powers, Pakistan and India, who have fought three full-scale and two half wars, neighbouring two superpowers, Russia and China. Presence of religious and sectarian extremist tendencies, the burning issue of Kashmir, and continuous antagonistic posturing between India and Pakistan further complicate matters. In such a volatile and conflict-prone region, regional stability is a delicate balancing act. Any skewed behaviour from regional or international players may disturb the tantalizing balance. This is a dangerous setting, which demands careful behaviour from all concerned. Any untoward event may send the region reeling into the throes of yet another full-scale war with a real danger of going nuclear. Within this environment, the unusual recent growth of camaraderie between India and the US is perturbing. One way to counter the situation is to boost Pak-China relationship. In this regard, this paper attempts to see China-Pakistan strategic partnership vis-à-vis Indo-US long-term cooperation. It also aims to explore whether both these interactions are providing a balancing influence in the region. Also, as an extension, this paper divulges multiple strategies of hard balancing between India and Pakistan which seem to maintain stability in the region.
First Published
December 25, 2015
How to Cite
Muhammad Zubair Iqbal, “Steadying the Difficult Poise: Sino-Pak Efforts to Counter the Growing US Role in South Asia,” Regional Studies 34, no.1 (Winter 2015-16): 88-106, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/steadying-the-difficult-poise-sino-pak-efforts-to-counter-the-growing-us-role-in-south-asia/
Issue
Volume 34, Issue 1