China Planning Military Base In Pakistan, Indian Report Says

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[b][color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]China is planning a military base in Pakistan,[url="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/china-military-base-in-pakistan-naval-base-at-gwadar/1/167084.html"]India Today reported[/url], citing "a secret report prepared by the government's joint intelligence committee."[/font][/color][/b]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]According to the report:[/font][/color][indent]

[i][size=4]China is keen to build military bases in FATA, or the Northern areas, while Pakistan wants to counterbalance Indian naval forces by having a naval base in Gwadar. But it does not spell out the exact location of these bases.[/size][/i]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]At a time when Pakistan-US relations are strained — chiefly over drone missile attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas and the covert Navy SEAL operation attack that took out Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil — China has made no secret of its interest in strengthening its own ties with the nuclear-armed nation. [/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Last Thursday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hosted Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Beijing and vowed to support closer military exchanges between the countries.[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]“China and Pakistan pledged to strengthen military ties and bring existing cooperation to a new level," [url="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-01/05/c_131344776.htm"]Xinhua quoted[/url] China's Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie as saying.[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]“China values its traditional friendship with Pakistan,” Liang reportedly said, adding that Beijing hopes to develop “pragmatic and effective cooperation with Pakistan in national defense arena."[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][url="http://app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173863&Itemid=2"]The Associated Press of Pakistan quoted[/url] Kayani as echoing Liang's comments, saying that Pakistan "would continue to provide firm support to China on all issues concerning its core interests," without specifying those interests. [/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Kayani said, however, that the relationship had been strengthened by frequent high-level visits, joint exercises and enhanced technological cooperation.[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]India Today, meantime, wrote that: [/font][/color]

[size=4][i]China's deepening strategic penetration of Pakistan and joint plans to set up oil pipelines/ rail/ roads and naval and military bases are a matter of concern[/i].[/size]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]The paper acknowledged that: "China's desire for a military presence in Pakistan has been discussed by the political and military leadership of that country in recent months."[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]It noted that the issue of Chinese bases in Pakistan was discussed during the visits of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to China and during a visit late last year of the ISI chief, Shuja Pasha, to Beijing.[/font][/color]

[url="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/war/military/120109/musharraf-china-military-pakistan-bases-wen-jibao"]http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/war/military/120109/musharraf-china-military-pakistan-bases-wen-jibao[/url]