Pakistan’s increasingly “close and effective defense ties” established with China during the past decade will allow Islamabad to “fill the gap” arising from the prospect of reduced military aid from the United States, a senior Pakistani official said on Sunday after reports emerged of cuts of up to $800 million in U.S. aid.
Amid tense relations with the United States, Pakistan officials have increasingly pointed towards Beijing as the country’s natural ally, offering the possibility of becoming at least a half-substitute to ties with the U.S.
This will be interesting to watch to see if China is really interested. China could potentially play Pakistan off of India and I’m sure they want to secure their investments in Afganistan. Then there is the issue of Muslim groups in China and who is supporting them, or rather won’t be.
China is also closer and, shall we say, a more “target rich” place than the US. They’ll be just as good an ally to China as they are to us and easier to strike at.