ISLAMABAD- The recent decision by the US to suspend security assistance toPakistan had convinced many in Islamabad that China was a more genuinepartner. “[The Chinese] are here to stay and help Pakistan, unlike theAmericans, who cannot be trusted.

Pakistan is planning to buy Chinese military helicopters and components forsurveillance drones as part of its plan to fortify its border withAfghanistan with a 2,600km-long fence.

Earlier Chinese ambassador to Islamabad said in a recent interview with the*BBC* that militants in Balochistan were no longer a threat to the economiccorridor.

One provincial tribal leader said many young men had been persuaded to laydown their weapons by the promise of financial benefits. “Today, young menare not getting attracted to join the insurgents as they did some 10 yearsago,” he said. “Many people see prosperity” as a result of theChina-Pakistan corridor, he said.