KARACHI: The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) hosted a webinar on the topic of ‘China-India standoff: implications for regional security’ on Friday to discuss the rapidly evolving situation on the China-India border and the risks of further escalation there.

The session was chaired by retired Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, president of the CASS. He initiated the discussion with his opening remarks that provided an overview of the current situation on the China-India border. He also shared his concern over the potential for further escalation.

Shashank Joshi, the defence editor at the Economist magazine, shared his views on the recent crisis and stated that neither China nor India had anticipated the current level of escalation. “It is the result of extremely worrying deterioration of protocols on both sides,” he said, while terming it a watershed moment in the history of the two countries.

Professor Shen Ding Li of the Fudan University expressed his views on the Chinese position and stressed that China was not looking for war and would not want to escalate further. “China would not compromise or agree to the Indian perception of Line of Actual Control as well,” he said, while emphasising the importance of strong Pak-China relations.

Former defence secretary retired Lt General Naeem Khalid Lodhi shared his insights into the military and operational significance of the crisis. “The skirmishes may seem tactical, but they may have strategic consequences,” he said while explaining the potential risks for Pakistan as well.

The director of the CASS, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jillani, traced the history of the China-India relationship and linked it with the current crisis.

In his concluding remarks, Kaleem Saadat made a comparison of the Indian response to China and Pakistan during the Balakot crisis.

He shared the concern that India may direct its misplaced anger towards Pakistan. “Nonetheless, it will not solve India’s China problem,” he concluded, adding that in an attempt to isolate Pakistan, India had isolated itself in this crisis.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2020