Published Online:April 2026
Product Name:The IUP Journal of International Relations
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJIR020426
DOI:10.71329/IUPJIR/2026.20.2.38-68
Author Name:Sachin Jaggi and Parmjit Singh Kang
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Arts and Humanities
Download Format:PDF
Pages:38-68
Pakistan’s growing strategic partnership with China has become a key element in the evolving security situation in the Western Himalayas and India’s threat assessment. This paper analyzes the development and strengthening of the China-Pakistan partnership, encompassing military collaboration, nuclear and missile cooperation, and economic integration via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the alleged presence of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). It contends that Pakistan serves not just as China’s regional partner but also as a strategic enabler for Beijing’s expansive geopolitical aspirations in South Asia and the Himalayan frontier. The paper examines how these changes exacerbate India’s security concerns, encompassing the hazards of a two-front contingency, the erosion of territorial sovereignty, and the formation of new strategic chokepoints along vital high-altitude borders. Utilizing a diverse array of primary and secondary sources, the paper analyzes India’s military, infrastructural, and diplomatic responses and the adequacy of these measures in addressing the increasing balance of power. The analysis indicates that the China-Pakistan axis presents a long-term structural challenge for India, necessitating ongoing strategic adaptation, improved deterrence, and a measured diplomatic stance.
The relationship between China and Pakistan has deep historical roots, tracing back to the ancient Silk Route that facilitated East-West trade and cultural exchanges. This historical connectivity laid the foundation for a resilient and strategic partnership in the modern era.