Poreg View: The report by Umar Cheema in The News International on Sept 4 that China has played an important role in breaking the impasse between the Sharif government and PTI leader Imran Khan and his Canada based "moderate cleric” Tahril-ul-Qadri comes as no surprise given the flurry of activity between Islamabad and Beijing and the one-day visit of Shahbaz Nawaz to the Chinese capital on Aug 26.
The intervention of former President Asif Ali Zardari to defuse the crisis precipitated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s handling of Imran Khan’s protests came shortly after his return from Beijing on Monday, Aug 31. And it became clear soon afterwards that it was not a mere coincidence and that it came about because of a specific request from the Chinese leadership to check the deteriorating situation in Pakistan.
Beijing’s concern was twofold – one they began to worry about their huge investments and about the security of their personnel, most of them engineers and workers; second the impact the turmoil will have on the planned Chinese investments particularly development of projects like Gwadar-Xinjiang economic corridor. Also, as Cheema report says, Beijing wants Islamabad to accord a proper welcome to Chinese President when he visits Pakistan after meeting Indian Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. If tension persists in Pakistan, it will not only jeopardise the visit of President Xi Jinping expected next week but also dash the expectations of Sharif government that the all-weather friend will announce an investment of $ 32 billion to mark the visit.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was in China when PPP leader Zardari was going around meeting old friends in Beijing. It is not known whether the two had met or simply happened to be around in the same room with their common interlocutors. But the fact of the matter is that to the great relief of his Chinese hosts and the Sharif brothers, Zardari had named Senator Rehman Malik as point-man to break the ice. Zardari kept himself in the loop, as the News report tells.
On the eve of Shahbaz’s visit China journey, a PML-N leader was quoted in local media on the condition of anonymity that he was going to Beijing "to get support for his brother’s PML-N government" which is under pressure from the protesters led by Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri. "Shahbaz will ask China to play its role in saving the PML-N government," he was quoted as saying.
Zardari telephoned leaders of various parties from JI and erstwhile King’s party PML-Q. He discussed ways and means of making PTI chief Imran come down from his high pedestal. Resignation of Prime Minister Sharif as demanded by Imran Khan is not to his liking either since he believes that such a demand undermines the democratic fabric of the country. He shared his views with Sirajul Haq, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, amongst others. All of them, for a change, are on the same wavelength and see Imran as an inexperienced puppet.
One more development shows that China has finally joined the ranks of Pakistan’s ruling trinity of Saudi Arabia, America and Army to the discomfort of two As – America and S Arabia. While the US state department’s reaction to the evolving situation in Islamabad was subdued and Washington appeared to acquire a veneer of neutrality in the backchannel talks in Islamabad, China has publicly expressed its concerns and strongly made out a call for breaking the impasse.
“China is highly concerned about the situation in Pakistan,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular news briefing on Sept 2. “As a friendly neighbour, we sincerely hope all parties in Pakistan can proceed from the fundamental interest of the country and people, and resolve the problems through talks to maintain national stability,” he said.
It cannot be said that Islamabad has ignored Washington. From what is in public domain, the Americans were sounded out and only when Washington did not appear enthusiastic given its pre-occupations in the Middle East, the Pakistani political elite turned towards Beijing for advice and help.
For instance, as The News report said, Zardari had made a “private” visit to the US capital and had a ‘chance’ meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden at an Iftar dinner. This visit coincided with Imran Khan going public with his demand for Nawaz Sharif’s scalp as the price for “rigged” 2013 election. One conjecture at this stage will be in order. It is that Washington had no clue whatsoever on handling Imran bomb and this made Zardari et al to turn to the Chinese. It is also possible that Beijing decided to assert itself vis-a-vis Islamabad and that Zardari- Shahbaz desperation came in handy.
—Ram Singh Kalchuri
