In the Shadow of Lal Masjid

November 8, 2007 8:22 PM

The China Factor in Pakistani Politics"Pakistan’s alliance with China, which supports Islamabad’s confrontation with India and underpins its hopes for economic growth in its populous heartland, is probably a lot more important to Islamabad than the dangerous, destabilizing, and thankless task of pursuing Islamic extremists on its remote and impoverished frontiers at Washington’s behest."
posted by Abiezer (12 comments total)

Um, also 212,999,999 hereish
posted by vapidave at 8:44 PM on November 8, 2007

Good post. The coverage of the Red Mosque siege was horrible in the states, good to get more information.

Surprised he didn't mention the port of Gwadar, which China is basically building for Pakistan.
posted by afu at 8:57 PM on November 8, 2007

I knew there had to be a better reason Bush was getting so cozy with General Pervez (I LOVE that name) than the "War on Terrah" and that's it... we're fighting for their friendship with China - much the same way Reagan and company in the 80s challenged the Soviets to become BFFs with Saddam in Iraq. Those who fail to learn from history... are fully in charge.
posted by wendell at 9:47 PM on November 8, 2007

Bravo, vapidave. I expect a full and concise summary of all those links come morning. TIA!

Interesting read. Unsurprisingly, the CBC, etc.'s focus on Pakistan these days often ignores the Chinese relationship in favour of Afghanistan, so thanks, Abiezer!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:00 PM on November 8, 2007

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
posted by vapidave at 10:10 PM on November 8, 2007

I heartily apologise for any offence caused by linking to a less well-known blog with a sustained informed commentary on China matters, vapidave. Not to mention wasting such a large proportion of your obviously valuable and sparingly applied commenting rights. I see with your own broad reading at Google and Wikipedia you already have the more esoteric Internet sources well covered.
posted by Abiezer at 10:23 PM on November 8, 2007

Sino-Pakistani cooperation in fighting terrorism.
posted by adamvasco at 12:32 AM on November 9, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Related - from Juan Cole: Pakistan's largest Urdu daily, which is usually moderate and politically neutral, attacks the US presence in Iraq as an brutal occupation, aimed at stealing Iraq's resources and 'showering favors on Israel.' It also defends Iran.
posted by adamvasco at 7:43 AM on November 9, 2007

Thanks for the consistently great China coverage, Abiezer.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 11:12 AM on November 9, 2007

Thanks for this post. It adds a whole new nuance to the current situation and one which is not really getting coverage.
posted by caddis at 12:43 PM on November 9, 2007

Sorry about that to all I offended, I must have been in a bad mood or my moon was in Uranus or something.
I apologize.
posted by vapidave at 4:32 PM on November 9, 2007

None taken, vapidave. And I got to be sarcastic!
posted by Abiezer at 8:13 PM on November 9, 2007