*ISLAMABAD: *
On January 12, the office of the US linkSecurity Adviser declassified the Indo-Pacific Framework in a surprisedevelopment, which according to observers was unprecedented given the factthat the document reveals how Washington wants to stop the rise of Chinalink the next global power.
The 10-page document envisages a road map to undermine China’s march tobecome the number 1 economy of the world by 2030. In Pakistanlink has been no or little debate aboutthe declassified document, although analysts believe that Indo-Pacificstrategy is not just a security threat to China but also Pakistan.
The key feature of the Indo-Pacific strategy is to build the economic,defence and military muscle of India link thatthe South Asian country could effectively act as a counterbalance to China.
“A strong India, in cooperation with like-minded countries, would act as acounter balance to China,” read the 10-page document, which was approved inFebruary 2018 by the Trump Administration.
What is significant from Pakistan’s perspective is that the US considersIndia as “preeminent” power in South Asia and wants to see India taking alead role in maintaining Indian Ocean security.
To help India achieve that objective, the US, through Indo-Pacificlink Framework, is seeking to accelerate“India’s rise and capacity to serve as a net provider of security and MajorDefence Partner, solidify an enduring strategic partnership with Indiaunderpinned by a strong Indian military able to effectively collaboratewith the United States and our partners in the region to address sharedinterests”.
Also read: *America’s declassified Indo-Pacific strategy shows how badlyTrump failed*link
For this purpose, the framework focuses on building a strong foundation fordefence cooperation and interoperability, expanding defence trade andability to transfer defence technology to enhance India’s status as a“Major Defence Partner.”
The US also wants to back Indian bid to become the member of the NuclearSuppliers Group (NSG).
“Offer support to India through diplomatic, military and intelligencechannels to help address continental challenges such as the border disputewith China and access to water including the Brahmaputra and other riversfacing diversion by China,” the framework further says.
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Not just that the US through the Indo-Pacific Framework also talks aboutchallenging the “Belt and Road Initiative” by developing a “robust publicdiplomacy capability, which can compete with China’s information campaigns,puncture the narrative that Chinese regional domination is inevitable.”
It was because of these reasons, as analysts point out, the US officialsoften spoke against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)link, a flagship program of the BRI. Defence andstrategic affairs experts consider the Indo-Pacific Framework as a clearthreat to Pakistan’s security.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who heads the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, told The Express Tribune that there was no ambiguity that the USstrategy for the region was a threat to Pakistan’s security. He said thatthe purpose of declassifying such a sensitive document by the Trumpadministration was to ensure that the incoming Biden government sticks tothe Indo-Pacific policy.
However, Sayed thinks that given the internal political turmoil and hisdesire to restore the lost global leadership role of the US, new USPresident Biden may not be in a position to implement the Indo-Pacificlink.
Meanwhile, officials in Pakistan are increasingly worried that deepeningdefence and military ties between the US and India have far-reachingimplications for the country. “The conventional balance will certainly bedisturbed between Pakistan and India,” cautioned an official, whilereferring to the US intention to build India’s defence and other capacityagainst China link.
Pakistan, official sources said, has been taking up the issue with the USauthorities. But observers believe that given the US strategic interests,it is unlikely to accommodate Pakistan’s concerns any more.
There was a time when the US tried to maintain balance in its ties withPakistan link India. Washington had beenreceptive to Pakistan’s strategic concerns. But with the rise of China, theUS has clearly taken a decision to ignore those concerns and hence wants tosee India as a strong military and economic power to counter China.
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