China Urges Restraint as Pakistan and India Grapple with Rising Tensions Post-Pahalgam Attack
In a high-risk diplomatic gesture, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong visited Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday, reflecting Beijing’s increasing status as a mediator of South Asia’s unstable geopolitics. The talks focused on rising tensions between Pakistan and India after the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-held Kashmir. This cauldron has re-ignited old rivalries between the nuclear-powered neighbors. With regional stability in the balance, China’s appeal for restraint shows its strategic intention to protect its interests amid India-Pakistan complexities.
The Meeting: China’s Message of De-escalation
As per a press release by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, Ambassador Jiang restated Beijing’s position that India and Pakistan must both “exercise restraint” and put greater emphasis on talks to try and prevent further escalation. The “cordial and constructive” meeting served to underscore China’s twin priorities: resolving Pakistan’s security fears while aligning itself as a neutral third party to the conflict.
Jiang underscored China’s appreciation of Pakistan’s “legitimate security interests” and reaffirmed Beijing’s backing of Islamabad’s attempts to safeguard its “national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The language is reminiscent of China’s long-standing diplomatic parlance, which tends to coincide with Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir—a contested territory claimed by both India and Pakistan since 1947. Jiang, however, fell short of directly endorsing Pakistan’s recent charges against India, instead calling on both sides to “settle differences through peaceful means.”
For Prime Minister Sharif, the session was a chance to update Beijing on Pakistan’s point of view. Sharif’s office reported that he “appreciated China’s steadfast support” and emphasized the requirement for global coordination to fight terrorism—a reference to Pakistan’s accusations that India has not acted to curb cross-border militancy.
The Pahalgam Attack: Catalyst for Renewed Tensions
The diplomatic overtures are made within days of a terror attack in Pahalgam, a picturesque town in Jammu and Kashmir, that killed several people and raised fears of return to violence. Though no outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack, Indian officials blamed Pakistan-based militants for the strike—a claim Pakistan rejects.
The strike has increased distrust between Islamabad and New Delhi, with India blaming Pakistan for sheltering terror organizations and Pakistan retorting that India employs such an attack to shift attention from human rights abuses in Kashmir. It is a cycle of finger-pointing that is familiar: the same accusations in 2019’s Pulwama attack drew the two countries to the edge of war.
For Beijing, the Pahalgam incident is an opportunity and a challenge. China’s ally, Pakistan, and strategic opponent of India, it must reconcile regional ambition with protecting against a crisis that would destabilize South Asia—and threaten China’s own stakes, like the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
China’s Diplomatic Tightrope in South Asia
China’s role in India-Pakistan conflict is not recent. In the 2019 Kashmir dispute, Beijing had sided with Pakistan’s appeal for international intervention when India abrogated Article 370 that had given special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Likewise, China has consistently vetoed attempts at the UN to list Pakistan-based militants as international terrorists due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Yet, Beijing’s role as a mediator is complicated by its fraught relationship with India. The two Asian giants remain locked in a military standoff along their Himalayan border, where clashes in 2020 resulted in casualties on both sides. Despite these tensions, China has cautiously engaged India in dialogue, recognizing New Delhi’s growing economic and geopolitical clout.
Analysts suggest that China’s latest intervention serves multiple purposes:
- Protecting CPEC: Stability in Pakistan is crucial for CPEC, a cornerstone of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Any conflict between India and Pakistan could disrupt infrastructure projects and threaten Chinese nationals working in the region.
- Countering Western Influence: By positioning itself as a peacemaker, China aims to contrast its approach with that of the U.S., which has historically mediated in South Asia but now faces skepticism over its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- Leveraging Regional Alliances: China’s support for Pakistan strengthens their “all-weather friendship,” while its outreach to India reflects a pragmatic effort to avoid overreliance on a single partner.
Regional and International Implications
The global community has reacted with caution to the escalating tensions. The European Union and the United States have urged restraint but refrained from taking sides—a departure from their more forceful denunciations of Russia’s actions in Ukraine. This lukewarm reaction reflects the geopolitics of South Asia, where nuclear powers and historical grievances require diplomatic caution.
For India, China’s intervention is a two-edged sword. Even though New Delhi has long opposed Kashmir mediation by a third party, it cannot do without China’s hold on Pakistan. At the same time, India’s increasing rapprochement with the U.S. through vehicles like the Quad (a membership that also includes Japan and Australia) provides another dimension of strategic rivalry with China.
Pakistan, however, regards China as a trustworthy balance to India’s suzerainty. Islamabad’s dependence on Chinese economic and military assistance has increased in recent years, especially as its relations with the U.S. have chilled over Afghanistan and counterterrorism issues.
The Road Ahead: Diplomacy or Escalation?
As tempers rage, the route to de-escalation is unclear. India has asked Pakistan to take “verifiable action” against terrorist groups, while Pakistan continues to call for a UN-led inquiry into the human rights record in Kashmir. China’s appeal for restraint can soothe tensions for now, but enduring peace will depend on fixing underlying issues: border disputes, terrorism across the border, and the political desires of Kashmiris.
For the time being, everyone is waiting to see if India and Pakistan will listen to Beijing. With China’s diplomatic influence and economic power, its voice matters—but in a region where history tends to repeat itself, the stakes have never been higher.
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