The nature of embryonic relationship developed in the earlier decades defined the contours of the relationship between two great nations in this period. The important role that Pakistan played in the rapprochement between the USA and China laid the foundation for building a trustworthy strategic partnership between China and Pakistan. In the 1960s, the Cold War was at its peak. Both the US and China were interested in counterbalancing the Soviets. The Sino-Soviet split and border clashes in 1969, coupled with the US’s desire to exit the Vietnam War, precipitated the process of rapprochement. Pakistan’s President, General Yahya, personally relayed messages between Nixon and Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. The secret trip of Henry Kissinger, known as “Operation Marco Polo,” was a historic breakthrough that culminated in the visit of US President Nixon to China. The Shanghai Communiqué issued at the end of this visit explicitly acknowledged the role of Pakistan.
A strategic alliance formed post-1971 war paved the way for the future relationship. India’s growing ties with the US were a concern for both China and Pakistan. The Scientific and Cultural Cooperation Agreement, signed in 1976 on the occasion of Chinese Premier Hua Guofeng’s visit, served to strengthen ties in the areas of science, technology, and culture, in addition to the existing military cooperation.
The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Pak-China Friendship Highway, remains the flagship project of this phase. This 1,300 km long highway passes through the toughest, most rugged, and difficult terrain, which is vulnerable to earthquakes, landslides, and rockfalls. The Khunjerab Pass is at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, making it one of the highest paved roads in the world. The idea of building the KKH was originally conceived in 1959. It was completed in 1979, inaugurated in 1982, and opened for traffic in 1986. The road length in Pakistan is 810 km, while the road inside Chinese territory is 413 km. During the construction phase, around 800 Pakistani and 200 Chinese workers lost their lives. In 2010, another crisis on the KKH occurred when Attabad Lake was created as a result of a landslide, submerging part of the highway. A 24 km road, including tunnels and bridges, was constructed by China in record time, displaying extraordinary competence in building infrastructure.
When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, both China and Pakistan supported the Afghan resistance. During this period, a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed between the two countries in 1986, which enabled China to provide reactors, technical assistance for uranium enrichment, and research support to address Pakistan’s growing energy needs. The nuclear power plant at Chashma is the outcome of this cooperative framework. China faced criticism for extending cooperation to Pakistan after joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), as it restricts nuclear trade with a country that is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Another milestone of the 1980s was the signing of the Investment Protection Agreement in 1989. The agreement was signed for ten years. It is automatically renewed if not explicitly terminated. The purpose of this agreement was to facilitate and secure investments in both countries, where investors were allowed to freely transfer their returns on investment, such as profits and dividends, after discharging local tax obligations. The Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement of 1995, involving Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, ensured access to Central Asian republics.
During the 1990s, high-level visits took place. Pakistan’s first woman Prime Minister visited Beijing to attend a women’s conference in 1995. Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Pakistan in 1996, and a framework for comprehensive cooperative friendship in defence, trade, and infrastructure was further developed. In 1999, the prospect of developing the JF-17 was conceived.
During this era, the Tiananmen Square incident, one of the important events in the history of modern China took place. There were protests for reforms and democracy. The reformist leader Hu Yaobang died during a violent military crackdown, along with many other protesters. China faced tremendous criticism and pressure from across the globe. Pakistan was one of the two countries, alongside Cuba, that stood by China in these moments of crisis. However, during the Pak-India Kargil War, China’s stance was not entirely in favor of Pakistan. China never condemned Pakistan or supported India, yet China maintained a stance that can be termed neutral. In these eventful thirty years, many things changed. The Soviet Union collapsed, and the world became unipolar. It is interesting that when the new world order proclaimed the victory of Western values and systems, China and Pakistan were quietly building a strategic partnership that would play an important role in the 21st century to counter the dominance of Western powers.
