China's role in setting up Gwadar (Arabian Sea port in Pakistan) as a deepwater cargo port and naval base is significant. China intends to transport its oil from Gwadar to Karakoram Corridor (PoK) thereby linking China to Arabian Sea. The Bugti tribes put an obstacle when they killed two Chinese engineers in 2004. Based off China's direction Gen.Musharaff eliminated the Bugti leadership using helicopter gunships. When Chinese nationals were kidnapped in Islamabad by Lal Masjid activists for running brothels, China pressured Gen. Musharaff again. Actions were swift. Lal Masjid leadership was eliminated. As if on cue two Chinese engineers were killed in NWFP this week.
In return China takes care of Pakistan's interests. How? India and China are talking to each other on the border issue for 26 years since 1981. China has little or no inclination to settle its border dispute with India. If it does, it puts pressure on Pakistan -- a "third party whose interests China cannot disregard" (as a Chinese official admitted at a "track 2" dialogue in Beijing). As such the entire 4,000-km with India is in dispute. The LeT was banned as a terrorist organization by the UN. LeT was regrouped as Jamaat ud Dawa in Pakistan. The US moved to ban it again. China promptly threatened a veto in the UN and stalled it. Sooner or later the full force of Islamic terrorism will be felt in China's Xinkiang bordering Central Asia. Pakistan can not hold the lid for long.
