Is China and Pakistan's 'iron brotherhood' crumbling?

TOI - NEW DELHI: For years, China and Pakistan have been tom-tomming their ever-tightening geopolitical embrace to the entire world. With Pakistan at the centre of its Belt and Road ambition, China has pumped billions of dollars worth of investment into the country and has extended diplomatic support to Islamabad at every global platform - directly or indirectly.

However, it appears that the ties between the so-called all-weather allies are now navigating through choppy waters. Pakistan's worsening security situation has become a matter of great concern for Chinese officials while its financial crisis has put Beijing's massive investments at risk.

The sentiment is similar in some parts of Pakistan, where officials are secretly blaming the mega CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) project for exacerbating the country's debt crisis. The CPEC is a $65 billion network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports in Pakistan connecting China to the Arabian Sea. Is the "iron brotherhood" between China and Pakistan finally crumbling?

These recent examples suggest so ... Closure of Chinese consular section China recently announced that it will be temporarily closing down the consular section of its embassy in Pakistan due to "technical issues". The move comes just days after China advised its citizens in Pakistan to be cautious of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

In a notice issued last week, the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs' consular department warned their citizens that they may be at risk of high levels of security in the country, Geo News reported. China, which did not vacate its diplomatic missions in Kabul even during the Taliban takeover in 2021, clearly appears to be nervous about the failing security and financial situation in Pakistan.

Rising terror Unlike the time when Pakistan exclusively used terrorism as a tool of its state policy, it is now facing a different kind of challenge. There's been a spike in terror attacks, particularly since the TTP — Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — called off a truce with the government late last year. Pakistani Taliban target Pakistan's military and security personnel with the aim of establishing the rule of Shariat as interpreted by their Afghan counterparts.

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