Why China Shield's Pakistan's Terror Agenda

Citing decades of oppression and neglect, Baloch leaders are demanding international recognition for a long-suppressed cause — now thrust into global focus amid rising insurgency and regional turmoil

- BY RUP NARAYAN DAS

Days after reiterating in a veiled message to India that China would stand by Pakistan, its Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on May 1, 2025 condemning the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

China's response is nothing but the hackneyed reiteration of standard refrain at least since the Kalachuk terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in May 2002.

China’s stance to Operation Sindoor was couched in a recent editorial ‘Peace of paramount importance’ in the State owned China Daily. The editorial conceals more than what it reveals.

In the first place it bracketed India and Pakistan as two arch rivals in South Asia. Rivalry can be there between two equals. On what parameters China places India and Pakistan together is intriguing if not mischievous.

Then the China Daily says that India started the escalation by launching the air strike to avenge the killing of 26 people by terrorist in Pahalgam.

Did Beijing expect India to take it lying low and allow the terrorists get away with impunity?

Instead of recognising India’s air superiority and military might which inflicted and humbled the Pakistan army which literally begged for a ceasefire, the China Daily editorial credited diplomatic efforts by China, Saudi Arabia and Turkiiye for the ceasefire.

Significantly, it did not mention the US role. The editorial said, ‘..Given the important role China plays in the region, particularly close relations with Pakistan, which quickly gained the upper hand in the conflict after India’s first wave of attacks, it is fair to say Beijing played a very key role in helping calm the situation.’

Nothing can be further from the truth. What role China played the world doesn’t know; at best it might have asked Pakistan to yield before it was too late to shallow the bitter pill of humiliation and catastrophic disaster.