Ethics, morality, right versus wrong- are issues that never had their place in the realm of international politics. America has time and again proven the statement- Right is with the Might! In such a scenario, it is time for India to restructure her political strategies and alliances. This section focuses on Sino-Pak relations, while hinting that friendship with China may prove futile. On the other hand, opinions of the West matter and India has to only gain by not shunning Western support. America has been mainly discussed under the heading of the "west", largely because US commands authority on matters of international politics and has the power to influence other Western European nations.

Sino-Pak Relations

It cannot be denied that Musharraf's 5-day visit to Beijing, post December 13th 2001, amidst intense military build-up along both sides of the Line of Control was probably to seek some support and help from China. China has been a long-standing ally of Pakistan and it is truly no secret that it is also its main arms supplier. The very fact that Pakistan today is a nuclear power is all thanks to China, the chief source of Pakistan's nuclear and missile technology. General Pervez Musharraf's meeting with the Chinese Prime Minister, Zhu Rongji in May 2001, saw China supporting Pakistan's position for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue. Then again, China has dilly-dallied with the issue of playing an open role in the Kashmir problem and in the recent years has adopted a neutral position.

On January 16, 2002, The Chinese Prime Minster, Zhu Rongji, who was on a 6-day visit to India, said that his country had no intensions of getting involved in Indo-Pak problems. However, the meetings with the Chinese dignitary in May 2001, resulted in Gen. Musharraf's saying that both countries share "total unanimity of views on all global and regional issues" and the two leaders said that the two countries would see higher and greater level of co-operation in all fields in the days ahead. Gen Musharraf's quoted as saying that " China and Pakistan relations are higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans and sweeter than honey".

Recent Developments in Sino-Pak Relations:

In June 1998, the Chinese Ambassador to India, Zhao Gang said that the Kashmir issue is a matter to be resolved by India and Pakistan through talks.

On July 14th 1998, for the first time, China convened a multilateral meeting of 5 countries and said that a multilateral meeting should be held involving India, Pakistan, the United States, China and Russia to help resolve the Kashmir dispute. China also warned India to stop spreading the "Chinese Menace theory".

In April 1998, New Delhi accused the People's Republic of China of supplying Pakistan M-11 missiles as well as technology and equipment for Pakistan's Ghauri Missiles.

On August 6, 2000, a U.S. spy satellite detected the latest shipment as it arrived by truck at the mountainous China-Pakistan border. It was one of 12 missile component transfers sent by ship and truck detected by U.S. intelligence agencies since the beginning of the year. The missile components are being used for production of the Shaheen-1 and Shaheen-2 missiles, which have an estimated range of 465 and 1,240 miles respectively. According, to US Intelligence sources, both missiles are strategic missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

On December 20, 2001 -Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Beijing on December 20 on a four-day visit to further consolidate his country's close ties with Beijing.

On January 4th 2002, Musharaff left for Nepal to attend the 11th SAARC summit, after having talks with the Chinese Premier- Zhu Rongji, in Beijing.

West's Best Bet:

Post-September 11th 2001, America is a changed nation. No longer secure, it is now facing a situation similar to what India and Israel have been facing for a long time now- Islamic terrorism. With guns pounding Afghanistan's Tora Bora region, the supposed hide out of Osama-bin-Laden, the question on everyone's mind is- will they pack their bags and leave once the job is done or will they keep their promise to wipe the world clean of global terrorism? If they intend to keep the latter, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Pakistan should be their next target. If that happens then America's strategic interests in Asia would change forever.

However what one needs to understand is that Pakistan is a poor nation and has neither the capability nor the resources to possess nuclear weapons, arms and missiles. It is here that China plays a crucial role. By helping Pakistan acquire new missile technology and other defense equipments, China is indirectly helping Pakistan spread militancy in South Asia.

The US needs to recognize this and stop bestowing China with all the goodies of a Most Favored Nation. China has become a privileged sanctuary for U.S. dollars and technology and other goods to flow from the United States to China, and from China to Pakistan. Thus one way America can put a check on Islamic terrorism is by reversing its policies and halting all technology transfers to the People's Republic of China.

In such a scenario India is the natural ally of America. It is high time for Indian politicians to recognize this fact. If India does not want to negotiate Kashmir, then the time is right to throw Nehru's policy of Non-Alignment out of the window!.

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