The bilateral relationship between China and Pakistan is famously termed as an ‘all-weather friendship’. Yet, the friendship seems to head towards a growing rift between the two countries. With its decision to finally lift the hold on banning Masood Azhar, China gave the first signs of the possible differences that might have arisen between Islamabad and Beijing. Recently, The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan arrested eight Chinese human-traffickers and organ traders for allegedly trafficking Pakistani girls to China by contracting marriages.
The gang allegedly took Pakistani girls to China, where they are forced to adopt prostitution, or used for organ trade, slavery and bonded labour. The FIA sources said that during investigation, it was revealed that marriages for the purpose of sex trafficking were taking place in Faisalabad. Pakistani media has been reporting that Chinese human traffickers are operating illegal matchmaking centers in Pakistan, where they allegedly trap women from economically burdened families in fake marriages before transporting them and forcing them into prostitution or even selling their organs in China.
Previously, news regarding two Hindu girls being abducted and married off to older men in Pakistan gained attention. Pakistani government took very passive action to deal with issue. The arrest of Chinese nationals thus doesn’t come as a surprise. Pakistan very well knew that something of this sort was being carried out. It however chose to answer China’s betrayal at international platform by bringing the traffic incidence to light after the Masood Azhar case.
This also brings out the hypocrisy of Pakistan. They were aware that a racket was being operated in the country and also that it might be facilitated by a group of Chinese nationals. It however, did not take action until it was disappointed by China on Masood Azhar’s case. Pakistan did not expect China to leave its side at international platforms like the UN. After China’s changed stand on the issue, Pakistan has decided to explore ways to reply to China’s constant unacceptable insults.
In the past months, instances of Pakistan receiving indirect insults from China were all over the news. First, in the BRI summit in Beijing, Imran Khan wasn’t received by the Chinese Premier, but rather a deputy mayor at airport. Further, China has blamed that Pakistan is using the funding of CPEC to invest in other sectors. The Chinese have therefore stopped the funding of the economic corridor in Pakistan. With these developments, it is not wrong to say that Pakistan had enough subjugation at the hands of China.
Islamabad has finally given an answer by arresting eight Chinese nationals under the charge of human trafficking. The number of Chinese nationals living in Pakistan has dramatically increased with the launch of the BRI. While initially Pakistan received the Chinese nationals with their arms wide open, it is now at the verge of showing them the exit gate. After being tested by China for its patience, Pakistan seems to retaliate on the betrayal it has received from its friend.
It is noteworthy that China and Pakistan, which claim to have each other’s back, are finally going south with their friendly ties. There are increasing differences in the stands taken by the two countries on global platforms. The objective of the economic corridor was not only to financially empower Pakistan but also establish a friendly relationship between the two South Asian countries. But it is turning into a channel for colonizing Pakistan and carrying out heinous crime. The friendship may get deteriorated beyond repair. These two all-weather friends might be on the path of becoming irritated of each other if bilateral differences continue to arise between Pakistan and China. Therefore, it would be interesting to watch further developments in this friendship between the two countries in the backdrop of changing global situation.