What's the message that gets across for the region?

ISI DG's visit to China & USA

Pathik Hasan

(Freelance writer, Dhaka-based NGO worker. Can be reached at pathikhasan1141@gmail.com)

DG ISI has completed his visits to China and the USA recently. The visit was conducted very covertly. There were some media reports on the visits. But nothing was said elaborately in these reports. ISI is a secret organization of Pakistan, everybody knows. So it is natural that the activities of its players, policymakers would be very confidential. But we were able to know about the recent visits through media reports.

His first visit was to China. Foreign Minister Qureshi reached earlier. A few days ago, the world saw the brutal incident of the Dasu hydropower project. Nine Chinese engineers were killed. Although Pakistan thought that the incident was a technical accident, China framed it as sabotage towards Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Some think that hostile parts of China and Pakistan might have conducted the incident. They raised questions, were India or western powers behind the incident? Dasu power project is a part of the Chinese 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor' project in Pakistan. The western stance against the project is going on. India has not agreed to this project. India refused to join in the project because this project violates the sovereignty of India. The CPEC connects China with Pakistan through Gilgit-Baltistan. India claimed full-fledged sovereignty over Gilgit-Baltistan as an integral part of its Jammu and Kashmir region.

In the mid of April, a bomb explosion killed at least four people. A Chinese delegation, including the country's ambassador, was staying at Serena hotel but wasn't present at the explosion time. The target was the Chinese ambassador. China did not take it easy. The alarm towards Pakistan from China started then.

However, now the all-weather friendship between Pakistan and China is facing challenges for that incident taken place in Upper Kohistan in KP province in Pakistan on 15th July. China feels uneasy to keep warm relations with Pakistan. China has postponed the project. That was not a single incident in Pakistan for the Chinese.

Now China claims that the Chinese people and its project are not properly secured. They need more security. So the Pakistani authority understood it as early as possible. Debt-tapped and cash-strapped Pakistan needs China with its every angle. So policymakers of Pakistan did not take time. DG ISI Went to Beijing to hold talks with the chief of MSS (Chinese intelligence agency), Defence Minister, state counsellor. He met top Chinese policymakers regarding security. Now DG ISI tried to inform them that the Pakistan army is capable to protect the Chinese and Chinese projects in Pakistan. There is no need for deployment of the People's Liberation Army. But China would like to deploy its forces to protect its nationals and resources invested in Pakistan. It wants more security. China wants to utilize this situation. Their goal is to deploy PLA to protect CPEC. Now time will say if DG ISI invites PLA to Pakistan. Or he assures China of the Pakistan army's stance regarding the security aspect of the Chinese and Chinese projects in Pakistan.

After the successful completion of his visit from China, it was a matter of sorrow that the two foreigners were attacked by armed motorcyclists while they were being driven to an industrial unit in the SITE area On July 27. So what's the outcome of DG ISI's China visit? Some surprise is waiting. It is confirmed that China is going to deploy its troops in South Asia directly in the name of the security of its project.

The deployment of Chinese forces in Pakistan would bring China close to the Indian Ocean. It has already built a base in Djibouti. Gwadar port is located in a strategic location. China wants now to ensure its security by its forces. Now China would play a crucial game utilizing the current situation of Pakistan. Afghanistan, the Central Asian states and Iran are also its targets.

After the completion of the China tour, DG ISI accompanying Pakistan National Security adviser Moeed Yousuf left Pakistan for the USA on July 26. They met with the defence secretary, CIA, US National Security adviser and other high officials. They held talks with the US officials amid efforts to reset ties with Washington. They discussed the recent Taliban turmoil in Afghanistan as a part of the Afghan Peace Process, the establishment of a military base in Pakistan. DG ISI and Pak NSA assured the US security policymakers that the Taliban would not harm or damage the US interest. Pakistan would always keep the Taliban under its control. Taliban would not harm or damage any US interest in the world. Pakistan needs the Taliban for its expansion 'strategic depth policy. But the USA would like to build a military base in KP province to monitor and surveil the Post withdrawal Afghan situation. The establishment of a US military base in Pakistan after the US troops withdrawal was a point of discussion. Now time will say the outcome of the visit. The visit is seen as Pakistan's wish to set up ties with the US. But ISI and Pakistan army would always support the Taliban for their vested interests. They always want the installation of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. It is their natural tendency. They want peace in Afghanistan overtly but ultimately they want to play the game with Afghanistan covertly. They always want Afghan under its umbrella. So it would be very difficult for the US and Pakistan to work together. Although Pakistan agrees to build a US military base on its land, they will back up always Taliban secretly. They would play as double gamers.

However, bilateral relations, regional security situations including the situation in Afghanistan and Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir came under discussion during the various meetings. Both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in security, defence and counter-terrorism fields.

According to some Pakistani media reports, National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan discussed the 'urgent need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan' and agreed to 'sustain the momentum in Pak-US bilateral cooperation' during a meeting in Washington on July 29.

Relations between Pakistan and the US have remained transactional but Islamabad has been pushing forties that go beyond security and Afghanistan. However, the US administration has not yet given a positive response to Pakistan's efforts as President Biden has not even spoken to Prime Minister Imran khan. Nevertheless, Pakistan is still pushing for the reset in ties as it considers its relationship with the US important despite Islamabad's deepening ties with China.

However, the message is not clear to predict the future regarding the two visits. Is the region going to get the deployment of either a Chinese Military Base or US Military Base or anything else?