A Study on the Challenge of Pakistan in Relationships with China, India, and the United States

Abstract

India has significantly impacted the approaches taken by China and Pakistan towards each other. Despite Islamabad's best attempts to build up its own military and civilian resources to match India's, China has chosen to utilise Pakistan as a counterbalance to India's supremacy in the area. China and Pakistan's cooperation is beneficial for both nations and allows India wiggle room in the event of a conflict. China is likely to find Pakistan increasingly useful, particularly as India keeps growing in the international inter-state order and moves forward with an additional identified foreign policy stance primarily targeting China, despite calls from some in the United States as well as India for the Obama and Singh governments to work together to re-establish stability in Pakistan. It has been argued that China's stance towards Pakistan is a model of moderation, patience, and diplomacy and should be studied as a case in point for how to attain long-term national goals. At least in public, China has made it clear that it values its relationship with Pakistan more highly than peace. China aims to catch up to the United States in Pakistan. Thus, the country's profile will not soon or substantially surpass the United States. China will keep using the diplomatic trump card of its obsession with Pakistan against India & the United States to accomplish its larger strategic ambitions. It seems unlikely that China, India, & the United States would agree on how to deal with Pakistan anytime soon. This article seeks to evaluate Pakistan's influence on the foreign policy of major powers such as China, India, & the United States within this framework.