The enhanced Indo-US strategic ties including the planned revival of the trilateral setup between the US, India and Afghanistan is being viewed in Pakistan as part of US strategy to contain the increasing economic and military power of China in the region. Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum (Retd), Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production, while talking to Business Recorder said the issue is the US threat perception due to the rising perspective of China as a "super power".
Referring to the recent visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to India and the logistics defence agreement between the two countries under which India would provide bases to the US, General Qayyum said that the trilateral treaty appears to be aimed at containing China, India's immediate neighbour.
Qayyum further pointed out that the US first increased its forward deployment in South China Sea after forging an alliance with like-minded countries in the Asia-Pacific region, again targeted towards China. However, he said China is already aware of US intent in the region which 'became crystal clear when the US encouraged India to fire nuclear powered missile from a nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean which prompted China and Pakistan to spring into action and proceed with the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)." Qayyum added that CPEC is a major concern for India and the US forcing the latter to sponsor Chahbhar port in retaliation to Gwadar port.
The US is between a rock and a hard place he stated: it cannot afford to alienate Pakistan nor is content with Pakistan's ongoing war on terror reflected by insistence on 'do more'.
Senator Rehman Malik of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) termed the US India agreement as an international conspiracy against Pakistan and a threat to the security of the country. He stated that India and Afghanistan are operating against Pakistan duly backed by the West with specific targets to destabilise Pakistan.
He pointed out that Pakistan lost thousands of civilians and troops while on the other hand India has had no role in the war against terrorism. "India, instead of co-operating in the war against terrorism, is abetting insurgents and terrorists inside Pakistan through Afghanistan which is ultimately damaging allies' efforts to curb militancy," he added.
Malik also described the Indo-US Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement as an effort to destabilise the region, adding it would increase uncertainly and tension in the region. "It's an effort to enhance military capability of India and certainly India would use all such facilities under the deal against Pakistan," he added.
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