Pakistan Turns to China for Post-Conflict Reassurance Following Four-Day Standoff with India

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Abid Hussain

Following a brief but intense four-day military standoff with India earlier this month, Pakistan has turned to its long-standing ally China to reinforce strategic and diplomatic ties in the aftermath of the conflict.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar led the effort with a high-level diplomatic visit to Beijing on May 20, just 10 days after missiles and drones targeted military and civilian locations across Pakistan. The attacks, allegedly launched by India in response to the April 22 Pahalgam assault in Indian-administered Kashmir, drew immediate retaliation from Islamabad.

During the hostilities, Pakistan deployed a diverse arsenal to defend its territory, including Chinese missiles and air defense systems, along with fighter jets supplied by both China and the United States. While Pakistan claimed to have downed multiple Indian aircraft, New Delhi has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

The standoff concluded with a US-brokered ceasefire, which Islamabad publicly welcomed and acknowledged with gratitude to the Trump administration. Despite this, Pakistan’s latest diplomatic overture suggests a clear strategic pivot towards reinforcing its alliance with Beijing amid shifting regional dynamics.

In Beijing, Dar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the first high-profile foreign engagement by a Pakistani official since the ceasefire. Discussions centered on the implications of the recent conflict, the stability of the ceasefire agreement, and Pakistan’s strong disapproval of India’s recent actions.

Dar condemned India’s “unilateral and illegal decision” to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) a decades-old bilateral agreement governing water-sharing between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The move followed the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, which India attributes to Pakistan-based militant groups an allegation Islamabad firmly rejects.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated Beijing’s support for peace and stability in South Asia. He praised the ceasefire as being in the “fundamental and long-term interests of both sides,” and underscored China’s continued commitment to deepening its partnership with Pakistan, especially in light of the region’s evolving security landscape.

As the geopolitical balance in South Asia remains delicate, Pakistan’s dual strategy of engaging both China and the United States reflects its need to navigate an increasingly complex web of alliances while sending a clear signal that Beijing remains its most reliable strategic partner.