Advanced technology allegedly being provided to terrorists in J&K by the China-Pakistan alliance, according to a recently released report.
In recent years, the China-Pakistan strategic partnership has grown stronger, particularly through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This economic collaboration has extended to include a technological nexus that has significantly impacted the security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the key areas of cooperation has been in the field of information and communication technology, mining, and industrialization. These sectors have bolstered Pakistan’s logistical and surveillance capacities, potentially useful for security operations related to Kashmir. China's support for Pakistan’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir, as reaffirmed by Pakistani leaders in recent diplomatic engagements, underscores Beijing’s backing of Pakistan's claims and its strategic involvement in the Kashmir dispute.
This technological collaboration has enabled terrorists to coordinate in real-time, while keeping their operations secure. The China-Pakistan nexus has created a support system that increases the lethality of terrorist operations, as demonstrated by the Pahalgam attack in April 2022. Security forces seized Huawei satellite phones, Chinese-manufactured GPS devices, body cameras, and encrypted communication systems from the attack site.
The digital network created by China Mobile Pakistan (Zong) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir provides multiple layers of operational support for terrorist activities. This network, which provides digital coverage to Indian districts such as Kupwara, Rajouri, Poonch, and Uri, has been a strategic challenge to Indian sovereignty and regional stability.
The China-Pakistan collaboration has led to a sophisticated support system that enhances terrorist capabilities while maintaining plausible deniability for state sponsors. This partnership extends to dual-use technologies that have been found in terrorist arsenals across Kashmir.
China supplies sophisticated communication systems, surveillance capabilities, and weapons technology to Pakistan. This significant supply chain for advanced military hardware has posed a threat to the stability of the region.
However, the elimination of three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, including the alleged mastermind of the Pahalgam attack, demonstrated both the capabilities and weaknesses of technology when effectively countered. The entrenchment of Chinese technology in Kashmir's militant ecosystem constitutes a strategic challenge to Indian sovereignty and regional stability, but it also presents opportunities for effective countermeasures.
The China-Pakistan economic and technological alliance poses a significant threat to the stability of the region. The trilateral cooperation mechanism involving China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan explicitly targets regional terrorist organizations, signaling a coordinated approach to reduce militancy spillover into Jammu and Kashmir by tackling militancy networks operating across borders. However, these actions also risk intensifying security tensions, as the enhanced technological and security cooperation can be perceived by India as exacerbating the conflict dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir.
In summary, the China-Pakistan technological and strategic nexus has strengthened Pakistan’s infrastructural and technological capacity, facilitated closer cooperation on security and anti-terrorism efforts, reinforced China’s political support for Pakistan’s claims in Jammu and Kashmir, and created a trilateral security framework with Afghanistan to combat terrorism. These factors collectively reshape the security landscape and militancy dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir by enhancing Pakistan's operational capabilities and deepening China’s role in the dispute.
References: [1] China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: A Game Changer for Pakistan's Infrastructure and Economy. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-a-game-changer-for-pakistans-infrastructure-and-economy/
[2] The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: A New Silk Road. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/11/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-new-silk-road
[3] China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Cooperation: Implications for Regional Security. (2020). Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/china-pakistan-afghanistan-trilateral-cooperation-implications-for-regional-security/
[4] China's Role in the Kashmir Dispute: Implications for the Region. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.orfonline.org/research/chinas-role-in-the-kashmir-dispute-implications-for-the-region/
- The China-Pakistan strategic partnership, notably through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has expanded into technological domains, providing terrorists with real-time coordination capabilities and securing their operations through advanced communication systems, such as Huawei satellite phones and encrypted communication systems.
- The digital network established by China Mobile Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir not only bolsters terrorist activities but also extends operational support, with digital coverage reaching Indian districts like Kupwara, Rajouri, Poonch, and Uri, creating a strategic challenge to Indian sovereignty and regional stability.
