An important turning point in the development of Sino-Pakistani relations is still the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement. Formal diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China were established in January 1950, and the PRC’s first Charge de Affairs visited Karachi, then-Pakistan’s capital, in June of that same year. Pakistan initially openly backed China’s admission to the UN, but later decided to back US led resolutions to delay China’s representation in the organization. In February of 1955, Pakistani officials went to a meeting of SEATO and officials from China and Pakistan also met the same day in Peking. In addition to this, Prime Minister Bogra stood with Chinese in their stance against USSR and called USSR as “imperialist.” Bogra also promised China that Pakistan would never go for an attack planned against China. By September of 1959, the maps of China started to show Pakistani areas of north and north-eastern border areas. Ayub Khan wanted to negotiate with China as according to him, negotiations would prevent any conflicts or issues between the two nations in the near future. Then, on 23rd of October, he assured the cabinet that Pakistan and China are soon going to talk on this issue. Ayub Khan came to know that China wanted a seat in the UN and he decided to make negotiations. He wanted to strengthen friendship with China and these negotiations were the means of doing so. So, the agreement was Pakistan’s vote in return for China’s consent to demarcate the border. Pakistan supported the China’s admission to the UN in 1961, and a decade later, in 1971, the goal was finally accomplished. Both parties agreed to formally define and demarcate the boundary between China’s Sinkiang and the neighboring areas in a five-page long document with seven articles. It was signed on March 2, 1963 in Beijing. Pakistan handed over the Shaksgam valley of Aksai-Chin to China. An Actual Line of Control based on the Karakoram watershed was accepted by both parties. Zhou granted Pakistan access toa region in Hunza known as the Oprang Valley, which was used by the locals there for grazing. Hence, in the end, Pakistan received 1350 square miles and China received and acknowledged 2050 square miles.
It can be said that Beijing has a strategic advantage over Moscow in its attempt for influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, thanks to China and Pakistan’s settled border status, which is marked by mutual understanding and warm relations. China has strategically built infrastructure along its southern borders in an effort to further it’s geopolitical goals. Highways have been built, facilitating regional connectivity and trade, connecting Lhasa with Kathmandu and Yunnan with Laos and Burma.There used to be a traditional “silk route” between Pakistan and China, but it was primarily used by caravans and had limited use for heavy traffic. This route, which crossed the Mintaka Pass, was impeded by snow in the winter. Its proximity to the Russian border also made modern development less feasible there. In order to overcome these obstacles, Karakoram Highway was opened in 1979.
China’s position on the Kashmir conflict was largely neutral prior to the Border Agreement. However, following the agreement, China backed Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir wholeheartedly. Ayub Khan and Zhou both stated in a joint statement on February 23, 1964, that the Kashmir dispute would be settled in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people, as promised by India and Pakistan. This statement was significant for two reasons in particular. First off, gaining support againstIndia’s stance on Kashmir was one of the main reasons Pakistan joined the Western-sponsored defence alliance system. Also, the fallout from the 1962 Sino-Indian border conflict and the Western military assistance provided to India withoutPakistan’s consent resulted in feelings of betrayal and elevated levels of in security among Pakistanis. They thought the Western military assistance might someday be used against Pakistan. Pakistan had a feeling of contentment when it saw one of the crucial powers of Asia had decided to acknowledge Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.
Moreover, it is also believed that this agreement was successful and reasonable because China wanted to humiliate India. If India was ready to settle its boundary’s dispute with China in a peaceful and acceptable way, the Chinese would have agreed. But India was not ready to do so and when China indicated India that the Sino-Indian border is not defined, the Indians simply disagreed. This agreement also showed that any issue between two parties can be peacefully resolved through negotiations and peace talks if both the parties are actually determined to solve it.Hence, this boundary agreement remains the best example of building peace through table talks.
The strategic alliance between Pakistan and China has led to significant economic activity and infrastructure development, although it was initially intended to counterbalance Indian and American influence in the region. China’s regionals tragedy promotes trade and energy cooperation with Central Asian nations for their mutual development. It also wiped out the chances of any further conflict just like the one that Chinese had faced earlier with India in 1962 and also built the cornerstone of Pakistan and China’s friendship.
Since 1962, China has been a reliable supplier of military equipment to Pakistan,setting up ammunition factories and offering technical assistance. Later in 1964,China gave Pakistan a $60 million loan with no interest. In the 1960s, Pakistan and China began to conduct trade with each other and the first bilateral trade pact between them was signed in 1963. Both countries signed Free Trade Agreements(FTAs) in 2006 and again in 2009. The second-largest trading partner after the United States, China is Pakistan’s best economic hope. Numerous agreements for economic cooperation and free trade have been signed by both parties.
The two nations’ mutual trust and cooperation increased as a result of the borderdispute’s successful resolution, resulting in greater cooperation in a number of areas. For example, in 1965, China supported Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War by directing India’s attention away from its eastern borders by engaging in military exercises along the Sino-Indian border. China’s willingness to help in times of need and commitment to its alliance with Pakistan were both evident in this action. It allowed China to strengthen its influence in the South Asian region and also counteract India’s influence in the region. It also gave her a strong position strategically as it would then surround India by both western and northern borders.The geopolitical environment in South Asia will be shaped more broadly by the close alliance between China and Pakistan. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), in particular, has been impacted by the strong strategic partnership between both countries. It opened the door for greater Chinese and Pakistani military cooperation. Both nations participate in joint military drills,exchange military intelligence, and trade defence technology. They collaborated to develop the JF-17 fighter aircraft for the military, and Pakistan’s collection includes a sizable number of MiG’s, tanks, artillery, frigates, and other Chinese weapons.
India was never in the favour of this agreement. India’s main complaint was that some of the territory granted to China included territory in Kashmir that was under Pakistani administration. They thought it was disputed territory that couldn’t betraded. China supporting Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue meant that Kashmir was not a part of India as the agreement had made it official and unequivocal for the Chinese to maintain that Kashmir did not belong to India. India even protested the border agreement at the UN, charging Pakistan with breaking the Security Council’s resolutions of 5 January, 17 January, and 13 August 1948. Also, by 1960’s, Pakistan had established most of its borders except for the area of the Siachen glacier. But, in the 1980’s, India started posing challenges in the operations in the Siachen glacier area and that made Pakistan worried. India’s actions were motivated by a desire for a military advantage over Pakistan and possibly for access to the vital Karakoram Highway. In conclusion, the agreement contributed to establishing a close bond of cooperation. Beyond simple territorial boundaries, it became a foundation of China and Pakistan’s lasting friendship and strategic partnership.
The author is pursuing Bachelors in International Relations from National Defense University, Islamabad. Her areas of interest include international conflict and peace studies, crisis management and advocating for the protection of human rights.