Asif dashes to China to stem BRICS damage

It is a measure of the perceived damage that the inclusion of Pakistani terror outfits Jaish e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar e-Taiba (LeT) in the list of terrorist organizations by the BRICS summit declaration in Beijing has done to Pakistan’s image across the world that its foreign minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has had to rush to Beijing to talk things over with the Chinese establishment. This is the second successive blow for the Pakistanis after US President Donald Trump recently warned Pakistan of consequences if it continued to support terror groups against India and Afghanistan. While the US warning jolted Islamabad, the Chinese signatures on a document that the BRICS heads of government released on terrorism in the region has sent shock waves across Pakistan. China has been an all-weather friend of Pakistan over the years and it is largely because of Chinese support that Islamabad has been cocking a snook at India, unconcerned about the reputation that it has earned of being a world crucible of terror.

Pakistan on Tuesday rejected the BRICS declaration, saying there was no “safe haven” for terrorists on its soil, but the China visit of Asif is an index that Islamabad is rattled and is looking for a word of support from the Chinese for whatever it is worth. The Chinese, if they are concerned about their friend’s negative image, must tell Asif some home truths. After the Beijing visit Mohammed Asif is expected to visit Turkey, China, and Russia for consultations on the new South Asia policy of the US. But critical to Asif ’s tour would be the assurances that he is able to get from China. There can be little doubt that Chinese President Xi realizes that too much closeness with Pakistan is causing China acute embarrassment. In stonewalling Indian efforts for the UN to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist with sanctions being imposed against him, China is being increasingly isolated and being seen as an abettor of terrorism. With the Chinese Communist Party plenary coming up next month, President Xi is keen to refurbish his image. At the same time, he realizes that Pakistan’s support is crucial in going through with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which will give Beijing tremendous strategic advantage.