Pak-China Joint Strategy against the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

This paper discusses the bilateral relations between Pakistan and China during the 1980s Afghan War and explores causes of their joint opposition to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Pakistan and China were among those whose securities were greatly jeopardized. Once again the geopolitical circumstances allowed the common interest to make more strengthen their traditional friendship. Pakistan’s western border was vulnerable, where on another side; the Red Army was directly involved. The paper analyzes that how Pakistan’s eastern side was in danger as well due to India and its friendship with the Soviet Union. The Indian Ocean was also adding a new threat as the Red Army was trying for access where India could help for a strong footing. China’s main concerns were the Xianjiang region and encirclement. Xinjiang region has been an area with restive tendencies, extremism and independence movement. Xinjiang’s direct border with Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor was a threat for Chinese sovereignty and stability. The Soviet’s entry into Afghanistan had direct impact on the security of Xinjiang where the extremists could rise against the Beijing regime. The strategy of encirclement was another issue for China and was conceived as another episode of the Cold War politics. It was the US plan in early days of the Cold War to encircle communist states, but this time was the Soviet Union. A descriptive-analytical approach has been used in paper and concludes that it was the common interest of mutual security which combined Pakistan and China against the Soviet Union in Afghan War.