China-Turkey-Pakistan: A triple whammy is in the making

There are serious strategic implications for India. In some ways, there is an underlying attempt to economically encircle India.

- SHISHIR PRIYADARSHI & MONISH TOURANGBAM

NEW DELHI The post-Pahalgam military escalation from Pakistan, in response to India's calibrated and proportionate strikes on designated terror camps inside Pakistan, unravelled a new geopolitical reality staring squarely at India's face.

While China's tilt towards Pakistan was not surprising given its longer history of diplomatic support to Islamabad, Ankara's growing fingerprints on Pakistan's military inventories used against India is indeed a cause of worry.

While Pakistan's air and land assets that have fronted its defensive and offensive military hardware against India have often borne the "Made in China" mark, it was the Turkish drones, amongst other things, that have changed this equation.

Clearly, the geopolitical landscape in Asia is undergoing a significant shift as China, Turkey, and Pakistan forge closer ties.

This emerging nexus is driven by shared economic interests, strategic objectives, and a desire to challenge the rise, and recognition, of India as a global power.

While China and Pakistan have historically maintained strong bilateral relations, Turkey's recent strategic pivot towards Beijing and Islamabad signals a deepening alignment with potentially far-reaching consequences for India.

WHAT DRIVES THE CHINA-TURKEY-PAKISTAN ALIGNMENT?

Clearly, economics as a factor stands tall in the new China-Turkey-Pakistan alignment.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a cornerstone of Sino-Pakistani nexus.

It provides Pakistan with vital infrastructure investment and links it to China's western Xinjiang province, enhancing trade and connectivity. Similarly, for Turkey, which has been seeking new markets and investment partners, aligning with China provides this opportunity. This alignment with China also opens up avenues for infrastructure development, energy projects, and defence cooperation for Turkey.