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Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination

Ms. Amna Imran Khan Additional Sectary IPC chaired a meeting regarding remodeling of Department of Tourist Services on 23rd July 2019
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DTS inspectors carried out inspection visit to Street Burger restaurant Islamabad on 30 July 2019
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DTS inspectors carried out inspection visit to Chayekhana, KFC in Super Market Islamabad on 31 July 2019

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Highlights of Department of Tourist Services' flag-hoisting and cake cutting ceremony with representatives of Pakistan tour operators association &...

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Department of Tourist Services, Islamabad

Establishment of PM-CJ fund for Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dam

Donate to the dam fund and make an everlasting social impact towards building a bright and sustainable future for your motherland. (FTN: 9015000-7). One man’s mission has now transformed into the collective ambition of an entire nation and millions of Pakistani’s around the world are proud owners of this drive that will make a real, transformative impact to the lives of our future generations.

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Government of Pakistan

Federal Ministers

President Dr. Arif Alvi says Pakistan is witnessing boom in tourism sector which will not only project positive image of the country but also help generate revenue.

Addressing a conference on the eve of International Mountain Day in Islamabad on Friday, he said government is taking several measures to promote tourism in the country.

He said Pakistan needs human resource development in this regard and universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan already have started short courses in hotel management and tourism.

The President called for involving locals in building infrastructure in tourist destinations to facilitate tourists.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana said a national tourism plan has been devised as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to promote tourism in the country.

He said Prime Minister himself is monitoring the progress on development and facilitation process in tourism sector.

The MD said restructuring of PTDC has been carried out in order to make the organization more efficient.

He said different tourism areas have been divided into zones in KP, GB and Punjab provinces. He said PTDC has also established a help line 1422 for inquiries and information regarding tourism. He said steps are also being taken to promote religious tourism in the country.

On the occasion, the President distributed certificates of appreciation among the top mountaineers of the country. Sirbaz Khan, Hassan Jan, Ali Raza Sadpara, Qudrat Ali, Sadiq Sadpara, Ali Moosa Sadpara and Naila Kiani were among the certificate recipients.

Special prayer was offered for the mountaineering legend Ali Sadpara who lost his life while summiting K-2 in winter.

Eurasia Review

A Journal of Analysis and News

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Prospects Of Sustainable Tourism In Pakistan – OpEd

By Muhammad Shoaib

In many ways, South Asian tourism is linked to Pakistani tourism. As a wide continent, South Asia has an array of landscapes, including mountainous and low-lying landmasses, as well as coastal and rural tourist sites and a variety of climate zones. Pakistan is the most visited of the eight countries in South Asia. Tourists are a huge growth sector for these countries since they are all still in the growing stages, which means they have got a lot of room to expand. In 2017, tourism accounted for 8.9% of South Asia’s GDP.

Tourist management in Pakistan seems to have been a priority for Mohammad Ayub Khan while he served as prime minister from 1968 to 1969. A few tourist information centres were established as a consequence of his assistance. Pakistan’s Master Plan for Tourism Development was supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) from 1965 and 1985. When it comes to policymaking, tourism was first brought into the fold in 1972. This ministry was founded in 1972 under the leadership of the Minister of Religious Affairs and Tourism. As a result, tourism was included in the ministry’s renaming in 1976. In 1970, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) was created by the federal government. The PTDC was formed to promote Pakistan as a tourist destination across the world.

A new ministry was created in 1977 called the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Archaeology. Nothing has changed or kept the same since then. A national tourist plan was first proposed in 1990, and work on it has been ongoing since then, albeit only in spurts. Pakistan has been a popular tourist destination since the 1970s, and the country’s tourism industry has been growing since then. In the 1980s, the heightened instability and turmoil brought on by the Afghan War hurt Pakistan’s tourism business. For example, according to Khalid Khan’s study, there is political unrest, a lack of tourism marketing, a lack of connected services like transportation, and the geographical remoteness of some tourist destinations.

Between 2004 to 2008, there was a temporary rebound in the economy. Pakistan was ranked 113th in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report (TTCR) in 2009. It is clear from the overall result that tourism in Pakistan is presently underperforming on a number of fronts. The business climate, safety and security, ICT readiness, human resource and labour market development, and health and hygiene are only some of Pakistan’s many concerns. Because to Pakistan’s 136-nation aviation infrastructure ranking, tourists are especially concerned about their safety while visiting the country.

For visitors, Pakistan’s low cost of living is a big appeal. Domestic tourism in Pakistan is on the rise because of this. In developing nations, domestic tourism is more common than international tourism. Pakistan had 46 million domestic tourists in 2009, with 50 percent of these tourists engaged in social travel and 14 percent engaging in leisure travel. Pakistan, on the other hand, has seen a wide range of international tourists. In 2014, there were 1133 million worldwide tourists, according to the World Tourism Organization. An estimated one million international tourists are anticipated to visit Pakistan in 2014. On a global scale, Pakistan has a relatively low proportion of international tourists. Pakistan got 6.7 percent of the 18.26 million foreign tourists in South Asia, compared to India’s 46 percent, while Europe accounted for 44 percent of all visitors to Pakistan. Sikhs accounted for a considerable percentage of religious tourists in Pakistan, while family and friends accounted for more than half of all overseas visitors. Additionally, religious holidays promote intra-regional and domestic tourism. Countries in South Asia that have religious importance attract tourists from throughout the world. For example, Buddhists go to Sri Lanka and Nepal, whereas Muslims go to Mecca.

When Pakistan received assistance from WTO and UNDP in developing a comprehensive tourist master plan in 2000, they did it with the cooperation of both organisations. In 2010, the tourism ministry produced a comprehensive national tourism plan, identifying Pakistan’s tourist industry’s marketing and development limits. It also emphasised the need of public-private partnerships in the development of tourism. Although Pakistan’s 18th Amendment left the work incomplete, the 2010 national tourist strategy was more comprehensive than the 1990 policy. The importance of sustainable tourism has been emphasised in Pakistan’s tourism policy since 2010.

After Pakistan’s 18th constitutional amendment, the federal ministry was disbanded, allowing the government to take control of the tourism business. It is possible that certain issues, such as promoting a positive international image, environmental limits and ecotourism, can only be addressed at the federal level. The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2015 reveals that the tourism sector is not afforded the attention it requires at the federal and provincial levels. Pakistan earned a score of 120 for prioritising the travel and tourism sectors, down from 122 in 2017.

The implementation of appropriate laws and regulations to safeguard the environment and cultural heritage is essential for sustainable tourism. Hotels and restaurants, two of the industry’s most important players, have thus far resisted certification and regulation. Among Pakistan’s most significant statutes are the Tourist Guides and Travel Agencies Acts of 1976 and the Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants Act of 1976. It is hard to see how these laws might be expanded to accommodate more tourists. In this case, the Travel Agencies Act is more relevant, since it deals specifically with Pakistani tour operators.

However, when it comes to environmental preservation and social responsibility, the travel agency legislation is mainly focused on taxes and authorizations. A lack of criteria or certification implementation is also present on the ground. To enforce these restrictions, the Department of Tourist Services has been given the task. It was a federal ministry until the 18th amendment, when it became a province-owned agency. There are still several issues with the implementation of Pakistan’s Star System, which is designed to ensure that tour operators and hotels are providing high-quality services. It is impossible to achieve sustainable development objectives without law and strong enforcement.

Finally, the literature review shows important concerns that require further examination in the context of Pakistan and sustainable tourism in general. In Pakistan, there seems to be a lack of research on the long-term development of tourism. As a consequence of its cultural, religious, adventurous, and geographical attractions, Pakistan is a popular tourist destination. Terrorism had a terrible impact on tourism between 2000 and 2017, and tourism is now in a rebirth phase with no long-term sustainability.

* The author holds an M.Phil from National Defence University and Islamabad-based freelance writer. He can be reached at [email protected] .

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Immigration department asking would-be Afghan migrants to reach out if detained in Pakistan

Note comes as canada hits goal of welcoming at least 40,000 afghans.

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CBC News has learned the federal government is warning would-be Afghan migrants waiting on their applications to be completed in Pakistan that they should not leave their accommodations in case they are arrested for lacking legal documents, and asking them to notify Canadian diplomatic services in Islamabad should they be detained.

"Any IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) client who has been detained in Pakistan should notify the High Commission of Canada in Pakistan immediately by email," a note sent to clients on Oct. 30, 2023 reads. "You may also contact the High Commission of Canada in Pakistan on behalf of a detained family member."

The message arrives on the heels of the Canadian government announcing on Monday it had reached its stated goal of bringing in at least 40,000 Afghans to Canada following Afghanistan's fall to the Taliban in August 2021.

Canada warns would-be Afghan migrants in Pakistan to stay inside

But it also comes as Pakistani authorities have been warning Afghans who do not have documents allowing them to legally be present in the country that they must obtain visas by Nov. 1 or face deportation or arrest. The United Nations migration agency, the International Organization for Migration, was warning migrants weeks ago about notifying their guest houses, should they leave on errands.

The IRCC note also says, "the government of Canada cannot help clients regularize their status in Pakistan. Even if their application for permanent residence to Canada is approved, the Pakistani authorities at the airport may refuse exit if clients have not complied with all local immigration laws."

"How can I email them while I'm detained? When the police take me?" asked Mohammad Younas Nasimi, a former military contractor with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan, who moved to Pakistan two years ago and has since been waiting to find out if the applications for him and his family will be approved for onward travel to Canada.

Nasimi received the email from Immigration Canada on Monday night, hours after he said police in Pakistan had shown up at the doorstep of his guest house in Islamabad, demanding to be let in.

He said the police eventually left after the guest house told them their clients are Afghan migrants waiting to move to third countries, but they also promised they would return.

Another Afghan man CBC spoke to in Islamabad, who asked not to be identified due to still having relatives in Afghanistan, said he is also dreading a possible arrest following the email he got from the IRCC.

"We are like prisoners in our hotels," he said. "We're not going out for the last two weeks."

The man said he spent the last of his cash savings to renew visas for his wife and three children, but has been unable to do the same for himself.

Immigration minister expressed concern to Pakistan

Speaking to journalists at a news conference on Tuesday, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said he spoke to Pakistan's interim minister of the interior on Sunday and conveyed his concerns about deportations and arrests.

"It was a productive conversation," Miller said. "Obviously in order for this to work and to get people to safety in Canada, it takes a working relationship.

"I am also very conscious of my role to be very careful in not lecturing people about their interior domestic politics," he added.

Miller also addressed the note sent out by his department to would-be migrants.

"I do not presume that a migrant in a jail cell will receive any form of communication," he said.

Pakistan moves to expel hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants

Meanwhile, his government is also facing calls to increase the number of Afghans it will admit to Canada.

"The 40,000 target is an important one that we have met," said Gauri Sreenivasan, the co-executive director for the Canadian Council for Refugees. "But the needs are significant. The bonds between Canada and Afghanistan are significant and certainly the council would be encouraging the Canadian government to look to see what more can be done given the dire situation that so many find themselves in Pakistan."

Miller said the 40,000 number is not a ceiling in and of itself. "We do have to look at what our commitment was to the Afghans," he said.

It is unclear how many Afghans have their applications still pending. The Immigration department does not release those numbers, citing operational security.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior reporter

Raffy Boudjikanian is a senior reporter with the CBC's Parliamentary Bureau in Ottawa. He has also worked in Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal for the public broadcaster.

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PM for centre-province liaison on tourism

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday stressed the need for increasing collaboration between the center and provinces to exploit the massive potential of tourism.

The prime minister expressed these views in a meeting with Special Assistant for Tourism Wasi Shah here at the PM House.

PM Kakar said owing to serene natural beauty, huge opportunities existed in Pakistan in the tourism sector.

Wasi Shah briefed the prime minister about the steps taken on tourism at the federal level.

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ISLAMABAD: The National Folk Festival (Lok Mela) was helping in promoting cultural tourism as a large number of local tourists coming from various parts of the country to enjoy amazing and mega event in the capital.

Talking to APP, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) official said that the biggest folk festival in the country called Lok Mela continued from November 3-12 here.

It was organized by the National Heritage and Culture Division at Lok Virsa, he added. He said the festival was attracting tourists massively by serving them with cultural and traditional treats, featuring a variety of activities such as provincial pavilions, food stalls, shopping at traditional stalls and music programmes that was reflecting and unveiling the rich cultural diversity of the country.

The official said that the exceptional festival was encouraging and fascinating the folk lovers to throng the federal capital and enjoy the music, traditional dances, arts and handicraft.

“The cultural nights are also part of the unique folk mela that also entraining the tourists,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here, the festival was being conducting under the theme ‘Peace and Harmony through Cultural Diversity’ offers an immense opportunity to enjoy the rich culture of all the provinces.

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The PTDC has developed Brand Pakistan in order to introduce the country as a tourist destination across the globe

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is planning to roll out multiple initiatives in a bid to revitalize the tourism industry and project a positive image of Pakistan globally through the use of modern means of communication.

“After successfully suppressing the coronavirus pandemic in the country, our prime focus now is on promoting multi-faceted tourism from across the globe,” a senior PTDC officer told APP, while sharing the government’s two years performance pertaining to the tourism sector.

He said that the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), is preparing to launch all initiatives which were delayed due to the closure of the sector in the wake of coronavirus.

The PTDC, he said, has developed ‘Brand Pakistan’ with the help of international experts and would launch it soon to introduce the country as a tourism destination across the globe. Brand Pakistan has three main components which include brand identity development, musical score creation and an interactive e-portal, he added.

The officer said that an exclusive e-portal would be launched to provide exposure to Pakistan’s tourist attractions through one click. “The portal will consist of a user-friendly interface through which tourists will be able get a view of Pakistan’s tourism sites through virtual galleries, videos and documentaries and avail the various available services.”

He said that the development of a National Tourism Strategy (2020-2030) is in the final stages which is meant to develop a harmonised framework for the tourism sector, after taking all the stakeholders on board. The strategy would focus on four key areas including good governance, tourism demand and supply, jobs creation and growth.

He said that Pakistan is also preparing to host the ‘World Tourism Forum’ next year to showcase the country’s tourism potential, attract investment and build Pakistan into an international brand. “The participation of over 1,000 foreign visitors, including investors, companies, tourists and holiday makers is expected,” he said.

Highlighting steps taken by the government for the promotion of tourism in the last two years, he said that prior to Covid-19, the government undertook multiple initiatives at the policy level, formed authorities at the federal level to boost coordination among federating units and opened up the country by easing the visa process.

He said the government constituted the National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) with representation from all the provinces and stakeholders. Nine working groups were formed to assist the NTCB, with each group assigned a specific thematic area such as policy and regulatory reforms, eco tourism, culture and heritage tourism, religious tourism and others.

The board is responsible for coordination between federal, provincial and regional tourism organisations and departments and international tourism bodies for promoting the country’s tourism sector.

The officer said that the PTDC restructuring has been completed to transform it into a progressive, efficient and technology savvy organisation.

He said the government has relaxed its visa policy for boosting the influx of foreign tourists into the country.

The officer said that e-visa facility is being provided to over 170 countries, whereas visa on arrival to citizens of 50 countries is also being provided. So far around 120,000 international visitors have utilised these services to obtain a Pakistani visa, he added.

He said that the Tourism Development Endowment Fund with the seed money of Rs1 billion has been established after receiving concurrence from all the stakeholders.

The fund would be utilised to promote tourism potential of Pakistan. It would also aid the tourism industry in matters related to hospitality services, standards and certifications, research and analysis and centralising the tourism database, he added.

The main types of tourism available in Pakistan can be classified into four categories, namely archaeology and historical tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, and religious tourism.

Even though tourism in Pakistan is on the rise, there are several remaining factors that hamper the growth of the industry.

An amalgam of diverse cultures, the beauty of Pakistan is translated through the remains of ancient civilizations, religious sites, monuments still alive singing tales of the battles fought, serene valleys with snow-capped peaks and frozen lakes, beautiful shores, and lush green forests.

Dear Respected Sir,

This is to inform you that i have been working with Hospitality and Tourism for the past fifteen years. I have managed some of the big names in Hospitality like Star-wood / Sheraton, Avari Group, Shangrila, LeGrand, Falettis, Consultancy to Punjab Tourism and Ministry of Defense in Hospitality Areas.

I have given consultancy to projects in Hunza, Galiyat, Swat, Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur/ Cholistan. I am also closely in touch with the latest tourism issues and developments. Also closely connected to the Major Corporate Sector. NGO’s ,Tour Operators Association in Pakistan,

“I have been involved in developing Hospitality training for GIZ ( Training for Hospitality Sector , House Keeping/ F&B/ Operations and participated in their Forums)

Further i provide consultancy starting from Location ( Best locations in Pakistan that can attract tourism), Resort/ Hotel Layout for construction of hotel as per latest requirements of foreign tourists. In early 90’s i have worked and managed foreign groups for Hunza. Further in give complete package programs to Hotels/ Resorts form Hiring, Operations, Social Media Marketing etc.

I have developed reports and feasibility’s for different tourism projects that i can share if required including the report on Kotli Satian for Punjab Tourism Ministry.

With my experience in Hospitality and Tourism in various areas of North, i have an in depth knowledge of all the issues that the tourists face and also the solutions for that.

I can be helpful in planning, promoting and bringing in Foreign Tourists Further i can share some ideas as how we can convince and facilitate foreign tourists and increase Foreign Tourism without much hassle and also provide them best hospitality services

. In addition due to my close connectivity with local tour operators associations etc, i can bring in local support in promoting tourism in Pakistan. I also have close connectivity with the Hotel Industry and Resorts all over Paksitan.

Sir, with my above experience in Hospitality/Tourism of 15 Years and prior to that 10 years with DuPont and Nishat Gtoup , I have developed very good connections in the Major Corporate sector in Pakistan.

I would request you please give me a chance in your team for identifying the right sources contributing in the right direction to promote Pakistan Tourism. I have also been interviewed by France 24 Channel and some of the local channels on Tourism Development in Pakistan. I have attended all major Tourism Events at Karachi Expo and Convention Center as Tourism is my passion and want to get maximum knowledge and make my contribution in the field.

I request you to please give me some time for a short meeting for further clarity.

For any other information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Looking forward to you kind reply.

Thanks & Regards

Ahsan Iqbal Hospitality Tourism Consultant 0321-4297370

As per my above introduction i would like to be a part of Mr. Zulfi Bukhari, and Mr. Asad Umer in their efforts to boost Hospitality and Tourism in Pakistan. I have heard that new teams are being developed for different projects for development. I would request you to give me a chance to be a part and prove myself. For any other information, kindly advise.

Looking forward to your reply .

Ahsan Iqbal 0305-47109901

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Today's Paper | November 06, 2023

Country well-stocked with wheat reserves: ministry.

ISLAMABAD: The country is currently well-stocked with wheat reserves as both the federal and provincial food departments have reported a total stock of 6.934 million tonnes of wheat, the national food security ministry said in a statement on Friday.

These reserves are sufficient for the country’s essential needs until May 2024 when the new crop harvest reaches the market, the statement said. It added that Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) has a stock of 1.78 million tonnes, Punjab 4.021m tonnes, Sindh 0.817m tonnes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 0.227m tonnes and Balochistan 0.089m tonnes.

The private sector has initiated wheat procurement due to its confidence in the federal government’s support. Currently, more than 700,000 tonnes of wheat has been procured within the country, with expectations of an additional 1.2m tonnes to be procured, the statement says.

The federal government has assured full cooperation to the private sector to ensure a steady supply of wheat until the arrival of the new crop. The supply and price situation for wheat has improved and there is no shortage of the commodity in any part of the country.

Wheat prices, which were previously Rs4,800 per maund a month ago, have now fallen to Rs4,300-Rs4,400.

The possibility of further price reductions is also anticipated that would help lessen the common man’s financial burden and improve their purchasing power, the statement concluded.

The Crop Prospects and Food Situation report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations says prices of wheat flour were at near record levels in most markets in September.

In Pakistan, the area planted with wheat crop for 2024 is forecast at a level well above the five-year average, driven by record prices, while good supplies of quality seeds, fertilisers and herbicides augur well for yields, the FAO report says.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2023

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CURTAIN RAISER : Visit of the Prime Minister to Türkiye (25-26 November 2022)

November 24, 2022 | Press Releases | Spokesperson Office

At the invitation of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will pay a two-day official visit to Türkiye, from 25-26 November 2022.

Alongside President Erdogan, the Prime Minister will jointly inaugurate the third of the four MILGEM Corvette Ships for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Khaibar, at the Istanbul Shipyard. The two leaders will also hold wide-ranging discussions encompassing bilateral relations, the regional situation and other issues of common interest.

The Prime Minister will interact with leaders of the Turkish business community. The President of the ECO Trade and Development Bank (ETDB) will also call on the Prime Minister during his stay in Istanbul.

Pakistan and Türkiye enjoy fraternal ties deeply embedded in commonalities of faith, culture and history and underpinned by exceptional cordiality and mutual trust. The MILGEM project, based on joint collaboration between the two countries, represents a significant milestone in the Pakistan-Türkiye strategic partnership that continues to progress on an upward trajectory.

The launching ceremony for the first Corvette for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Babur, was performed in Istanbul in August 2021while the groundbreaking for the Second Ship, PNS Badr, was held at Karachi in May 2022.

Frequent leadership level exchanges are a defining feature of the eternal bonds of Pakistan-Türkiye friendship. The Prime Minister earlier visited Türkiye in May-June 2022.

24 November 2022

Last modified: November 24, 2022

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How India Sees China’s Ties with Pakistan and Bhutan

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Gautam bambawale and gautam bambawale distinguished professor - symbiosis international university, ambassador of india to china (2017-18), ambassador of india to bhutan (2014-15) tanvi madan tanvi madan senior fellow - foreign policy @tanvi_madan.

November 1, 2023

39 min read

China-aligned Pakistan and India-aligned Bhutan are both neighbors of India and China. In this episode of Global India , Tanvi Madan speaks with Ambassador Gautam Bambawale, New Delhi’s former envoy to both Beijing and Thimphu and high commissioner to Pakistan, about India-China dynamics vis-à-vis Bhutan and Pakistan.

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02:11 What is the nature of the China-Pakistan relationship?

06:20 How much has the China-Pakistan relationship been related to the trajectory of the India-China relationship?

11:01 Is China and Pakistan’s economic relationship smooth sailing or has there been friction as well?

13:56 What are Beijing’s motives for forging close strategic ties with Pakistan?

18:04 What are the additional implications for India of deepening friendship between China and Pakistan?

19:45 Does the China-Pakistan economic relationship pose challenges for India?

24:11 How has India responded to the strategic and economic challenges of the China-Pakistan relationship?

28:10 Crises and the India-China-Pakistan triangle

34:38 Does the U.S. factor into the India-China-Pakistan dynamic?

37:46 Trends in the China-Pakistan relationship that Ambassador Bambawale is watching most closely

40:25 On India’s special relationship with Bhutan

42:43 Would India be concerned about a China-Bhutan boundary settlement?

46:33 Lightning Round: What is the biggest myth in India’s view about China-Pakistan relations

MADAN: Welcome to Global India , I’m Tanvi Madan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, where I specialize in Indian foreign policy. In this new Brookings podcast, I’ll be turning the spotlight on India’s partnerships, its rivalries, and its role on the global stage. This season our conversations will be focused on India’s relationship with China, and why and how China-India ties are shaping New Delhi’s view of the world.

In our last episode, we discussed India-China competition in non-aligned South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. On this episode of the podcast, we’ll continue our discussion of China and India’s overlapping peripheries, this time looking at two countries that have been aligned, one with India and one with China.

Today, we’ll focus on China’s relationship with Pakistan, the second largest state in South Asia. It has been a partner to Beijing, but a rival to New Delhi. We’ll also briefly discuss another country that, like Pakistan, borders both China and India: Bhutan. That Himalayan kingdom has a close partnership with its southern neighbor, India. On the other hand, it does not have diplomatic relations with its northern neighbor, China. But Bhutan has been exploring ties with Beijing recently, which will have implications for New Delhi.

To discuss India-China dynamics vis-à-vis Pakistan and Bhutan, today my guest is Gautam Bambawale. He was India’s ambassador to China between 2017 and 2018. Prior to that, he served as high commissioner to Pakistan, and between 2014 and ‘15, he was India’s ambassador to Bhutan. He is joining us from Pune in western India, where he’s a distinguished professor at Symbiosis International University. He’s also co-author of the book, Rising to the China Challenge: Winning through strategic patience and economic growth .

Ambassador Bambawale, thank you very much for joining us on the Global India podcast today.

BAMBAWALE: It’s great to be with you Tanvi.

MADAN: Ambassador Bambawale, I want to start our conversation with China-Pakistan relations. We’ve heard Chinese officials and Pakistani officials, for that matter, talk about the China-Pakistan relationship as an all-weather friendship, described as higher than mountains, deeper than the oceans, stronger than steel and sweeter than honey. How would you describe the nature of the China-Pakistan relationship?

BAMBAWALE: That’s a very interesting question, Tanvi, and I think I can only quote yet another saying which the Chinese and Pakistanis use apart from everything else, which you have already stated. And all of them are used by the Chinese definitely and the Pakistanis. But they describe the close relationship between the two countries as being similar to the relationship between lips and teeth. So, the relationship has been very close. It is getting stronger every passing day.

But, as you probably know, it was not always this way. If you go back to the time when Pakistan as a nation was created in August of 1947 and immediately in its aftermath in the 1950s, the India-China relationship was very strong. And conversely, the Pakistan-China relationship was not that strong. But as the India-China relationship started fraying at the edges, and tensions, especially on the unresolved border issue, cropped up in the late 1950s, starting somewhere in 1958, which eventually led to a border skirmish, a border war, let me put it that way, between the two countries in October and November of 1962.

So, as that happened and India-China relations deteriorated, you find that Pakistan-China relations improved. And in fact, they improved so dramatically in those years of 1961, ‘62, and ‘63, that the two countries, China and Pakistan, agreed on a border settlement, a border agreement between the two countries. And from there, there was no looking back.

To just add a little bit more of history, Tanvi. The highlight, of course, was in the year 1971, when Pakistan played an intermediary role, a very important intermediary role, in the rapprochement which took place between the United States on the one hand and China on the other. Islamabad played a very important intermediary role in bringing Beijing and Washington, D.C., closer together. And, in fact, it was on a visit to Islamabad that the then national security advisor and then later the secretary of state, or the reverse, Henry Kissinger, made a very quiet visit to Beijing on a Pakistani military aircraft, which led to the rapprochement where President Nixon of the United States visited China. And of course, then that led to the rapprochement between China on the one hand and the United States on the other.

So, the China-Pakistan relationship has been close since 1963 and strengthened since 1971. But what is happening more recently we can talk about as we move ahead, Tanvi.

MADAN: In fact, it’s interesting, as you mentioned it, a fact that often doesn’t come up is because of that border agreement between China and Pakistan in the early ‘60s—which India hasn’t recognized because it involved territory that’s disputed with India as well—that in some ways, China is a party to the India-Pakistan territorial dispute as well. And so there have been times when people have called for honest brokers or mediators between India and Pakistan. And China comes up, but in fact, because of that boundary agreement, it has been for a number of years a party to that dispute, as you allude to.

I do want to ask you, given the description of the relationship, as well as how it was motivated in some ways or stemmed from India-China relationships deteriorating, how much has the China-Pakistan relationship and the development of that in your mind been related to the trajectory of the India-China relationship?

BAMBAWALE: I think it has tracked very closely. As India-China relations deteriorated from 1958 onwards and then led to the border war in 1962, the China-Pakistan relationship strengthened immeasurably and since then it has stayed very strong and steady. It has, of course, as I said earlier, strengthened because of the intermediary role that Pakistan played in bringing China and the United States closer together. But even since then, the China-Pakistan relationship has stayed strong and steady and has, in fact, always moved up a tick and has been on an upward trajectory.

If you look at the relationship today, there are several aspects to it. The first and foremost, of course, is the military aspect. There is very close military-to-military cooperation between Pakistan and China. And the two militaries in fact work very closely together on several fronts. Pakistan buys a lot of its military equipment today from China. And one example is the Pakistan Air Force, where the two have combined together to produce a fighter aircraft called the JF-7 Thunder.

And today that is the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force. It’s the main fighter aircraft that the Pakistani Air Force uses, slowly replacing the F-16s that they had, and they do have, continue to have even today. So, this is just an example of how the two militaries have worked very closely together, and they continue to work very closely together.

I’ll give you yet another example of the two air forces. We all know that pilots from the Pakistan Air Force are very, very good. In our estimation, in Indian military estimation, Pakistan Air Force pilots are excellent. And what they’re doing today is the Pakistan Air Force pilots are training the pilots of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force. So, this cuts both ways. It’s not just a one-way street. The Chinese are learning a lot from the Pakistani Air Force. And this also stretches across the military, the army, and the navy. So, there’s a very strong military-to-military relationship.

The second part of the relationship is, of course, political. So, there is a very strong political congruence between the two countries, and the political leadership of the two countries have worked very closely together, including after President Xi Jinping took over as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China in the latter part of 2012. So, all the way from 2012 to 2023, there’s been a very strong political aspect to the relationship, irrespective of who’s been the prime minister of Pakistan.

The third aspect, of course, is the economic relationship. And that is very strong indeed, especially because of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has been announced as far back as 2013 and has moved ahead very steadily since then. And the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as you know Tanvi, and your listeners and viewers will also realize, is a very integral and important part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, or One Belt One Road Initiative. It’s almost $62 billion worth of investment. I think a lot of it, at least 50% of it, has already been put on the ground in Pakistan to build things like infrastructure, whether it’s roads, railways, power plants—which are very important for a country like Pakistan, which needs a lot of power, doesn’t have adequate power today. So, there’s a strong economic relationship.

And of course, there’s also a people-to-people relationship, which is the weakest link of the entire chain. Because though there are many Pakistani students studying in China, I don’t think there’s much tourism between the two countries. So, today there’s a very strong relationship between China and Pakistan, which covers the entire gamut of military, political, economic, and also people-to-people ties.

MADAN: I just wanted to follow up on the economic aspect that you mentioned, which is the more perhaps recent aspect or dimension of the relationship. Has the fact that the two countries are now dealing with each other economically, has it thrown up certain frictions as well or has that been all smooth sailing?

BAMBAWALE: No, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. In fact, if you look at it from the Pakistani point of view, they felt that there was a lot of Chinese investment to come in. And there has been a lot of investment, which has actually come in, as I said, in infrastructure, whether it’s roads, highways, power plants, et cetera.

And all of this is required by Pakistan because there’s no other country or companies from other countries which are investing in Pakistan. So, it was much needed. So, this kind of investment, which is under the rubric of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, is welcomed by the Pakistanis.

But there is also the flip side of the coin that this investment comes at a fairly high price, which is a problem with the entire Belt and Road Initiative, the whole One Belt One Road initiative [for] other countries too. And Pakistan has become indebted to China and will in the future have to see how it will pay back all these loans that the Chinese have given them for building the infrastructure which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. So, it’s not been plain sailing.

In fact, when Prime Minister Imran Khan was voted to office, he took a good hard look, his government took a good hard look at how different projects under the CPEC, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, were doing. And on some of those projects they decided that they would go slow, on other projects they went ahead pretty quickly. So, there has been some kind of soul searching in Pakistan. But in a situation where there’s very little economic assistance which is flowing into Pakistan, this kind of assistance under the CPEC has been welcomed by them.

Of course, it’s coming at a very high cost because when you compare loans under the Belt and Road Initiative or the CPEC initiative, they’re much higher than what the multilateral development banks give, and several fold. So, Pakistan will have to factor in this rising indebtedness under the CPEC program, and will have to decide whether they will go ahead with it and how quickly they will go ahead with it, and whether they’re in a position where they can pay back those loans when they come due.

So, I think this is a problem that Pakistan is facing. It’s a problem that other countries have faced too. But I think in this case, there is a political push, which is necessary and which is coming from both Beijing as well as Islamabad.

MADAN: It’s interesting that you’ve had now a relationship that for China has changed in some elements, perhaps more complicated than it used to in the past. You mentioned one motivation for the countries to engage with each other despite these frictions, which is the strategic aspect that ’both have had key rivalries with India. And so, the other has been a counterbalance. And I remember once somebody said, for China, the relationship with Pakistan in some ways is about keeping India tied down in South Asia, so it can’t actually move out beyond and play a larger role in the region. And so, you’ve seen, as you mentioned, in the military domain, even with Pakistan’s nuclear program, facilitating that, that China has played a role.

Have there been other motivations besides needing to or wanting to balance India in South Asia and beyond? Have there been other motivations for the China-Pakistan relationship, particularly for Beijing?

BAMBAWALE: Tanvi, you are absolutely right. I think for Beijing and for Islamabad, balancing out India and Indian power was an important factor in building a closer relationship between the two countries. In the early ‘60s, once they had ironed out their border problem with a border agreement, I think the relationship moved ahead very, very quickly.

But today, I think it is a very important problem for India because as these two countries—China on the one hand and Pakistan on the other, one on a northern border, the other on a western border—and with both countries, India has unresolved frontier issues, unresolved boundary issues, unresolved border issues. It becomes a problem for us because increasingly we are looking at two-front situation, which is not entirely comfortable for us.

But I think from Beijing’s perspective, which is what your question was about, there is little doubt that by making sure that Pakistan has a certain amount of heft in political and international relations they are keeping India on the back foot. Not much longer because of the fact that India today is already 10 times the size of Pakistan. Pakistan’s economy is roughly $300 billion. India’s is roughly $3.75 trillion. And India has increasingly played a role in international affairs and international politics, and is not being tied down to South Asia.

The recent G-20, which was hosted in Delhi, where India was the president of the G-20, is one case in point. But there are other indicators to show that India’s comprehensive national strength is also growing by leaps and bounds. So, while that is a motivation, I think, I don’t know if it is going to continue to be an important factor in keeping India back.

If you take three recent things which have happened where India is concerned: one is our successful Chandrayaan-3 experiment where we landed on the moon, on the dark side of the moon, and did it very successfully. The second was, of course, the successful hosting of the G-20 and a successful leaders’ outcome, a leaders’ statement from the G-20 leaders who had gathered in New Delhi. And the third is how well Indian sportspeople did at the recently held Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where for the first time ever, we won more than one hundred medals overall, much less and much behind China, Japan, and South Korea, but we were lying fourth.

If you put these different strands together from different fields, my argument has been that it is an exhibition of India’s rising comprehensive national power. And I think that comprehensive national power has been rising despite anything that China has done vis-à-vis Pakistan, backing Pakistan, et cetera. So, I think that is something which is exhibiting diminishing returns for the Chinese and for Beijing.

MADAN: And you mentioned one of the implications nonetheless for India is that it does have to think about a two-front situation. What are the other implications for India as it’s seen this deepening relationship, this all-weather friendship, develop between China and Pakistan?

BAMBAWALE: Look, from a perspective of international politics, it’s not entirely comfortable for a country like India to have two other neighbors—I mean, neighbors of India and they’re neighbors of each other also—to be against us, et cetera. We would like to definitely try to work with one of them to reduce the salience of each other. In today’s world, if the government of Pakistan were to make some moves to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, I’m sure New Delhi would respond very, very positively to that, especially because, as you know, since the summer of 2020, Indian troops and Chinese troops have been face to face with each other in a certain part of a boundary, which we call eastern Ladakh, and have been in those positions with large numbers of troops facing each other since summer of 2020, which means that it’s been almost three years plus now. And that’s not a very good situation for two armies to be in.

So, if we were able to work with Pakistan to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan, I’m pretty sure we’ll take an offer of that kind and work at it, at least work towards it. So, the two-front situation is not something which we are very comfortable with, or any country would be comfortable with.

MADAN: One of the things that you mentioned earlier was the economic dimension of the China-Pakistan relationship. As we were talking about, that is a newer dimension. Has that added particular complications for India? One, of course, I’m assuming you’ll mention is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor itself and where some of those projects lie. But more broadly as well, are there other dimensions of that China-Pakistan economic relationship that pose particular challenges for India?

BAMBAWALE: No, I don’t think it really poses a challenge to India. And I’ll tell you why, Tanvi, because till very recently, till Pakistan managed to get yet another loan from the IMF and then it was backed by other countries, especially Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, et cetera, it was passing through a very, very difficult period where foreign exchange was so scarce, that there were several import items which Pakistan had to cut back on. So, Pakistan’s economic situation till very recently, a few months ago, was pretty dire.

And I’d like to highlight to you, Tanvi, and to your audience that this is not the first time or the second time that Pakistan in its 75-year history has gone to the IMF for an adjustment loan due to shortage and scarcity of foreign exchange reserves. This is the 23rd time in a 75-year history that Pakistan has had to go to the IMF for a loan of this kind, which implies that they have had a cyclical pattern of foreign exchange running short, running scarce, and every time they’ve had to reach out to the International Monetary Fund for an adjustment loan.

So, there is something in the Pakistan economy which is ensuring that they do not earn the kind of foreign exchange that they need for the imports that they have. And this is a recurrent pattern. It’s happened 23 times. And, therefore, it leads me to believe that If they don’t focus on that issue, if they don’t try to resolve that issue, they’re going to get into this kind of situation. It’s a cyclical pattern and this cyclical pattern will continue.

So, I don’t think that’s a real headache for India, it’s a real problem for India. But we will continue to do our own thing. We have focused laser sharp on ensuring that India continues to be a high-growth economy. As the IMF has described, India is a bright spot in a global economy, which is looking quite difficult. We grew by 7.5% a year ago. We’re expected to grow by 6.5% this year. And, therefore, I think this is the time where India has to focus on itself to ensure that it has high rates of GDP growth, not just for two years or three years, but for a long stretch of 15 or 20 years. And if we are able to do that, then India’s economy will grow from the fifth largest in the world to the third largest in the world in a few years’ time.

But more than just GDP and the size of the economy, we will also have to focus on per capita GDP, per capita incomes, so that we improve the living standards of our vast population. And that’s a very difficult job. And that’s something which we are focused on laser sharp, rather than worrying about what China and Pakistan are doing together.

MADAN: In fact, one of the questions people used to ask when the Belt and Road Initiative was more popular and where you’d see more Western leaders and others appear at the Belt and Road Forum is why wasn’t India part of the Belt and Road Initiative? And it would need it for growth, for its own growth, you’d hear from some analysts in Beijing. As you said, that has happened through other means, but also there is the issue that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of BRI, some of those projects do lie in disputed territory as well. And so, it’s not something that India can sign up for. And when it objected to the Belt and Road Initiative when the first Belt and Road Forum was being held, it mentioned that it needed to respect territorial integrity, which India does have issues with both China and Pakistan on.

I do want to ask you how you see, given this, at least from the strategic perspective, even if not economic perspective, that the China-Pakistan relationship does pose some challenges for India. How has India responded to this challenge over the last few years or even presently?

BAMBAWALE: As far as Pakistan is concerned, Tanvi, you know that several Indian prime ministers dating back several decades have always realized that we need a more normal kind of relationship and not an adversarial relationship between Pakistan and India. And several prime ministers have attempted to do so. The most spectacular effort was by Prime Minister Vajpayee when he took a bus from India to Lahore and had discussions with his counterpart, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Nawaz Sharif. The Lahore Declaration is very, very well known in India, Pakistan, not only amongst people like us who follow international relations, but also amongst ordinary people because of the spectacular effort and the political capital that was utilized by Prime Minister Vajpayee in reaching out to Pakistan.

Unfortunately, while the political leadership of Pakistan understood this move and even reciprocated it, and there was a guideline or a plan of action, which was chalked out on how the two countries would move ahead, the Pakistani army then took a hand in the relationship by creating the Kargil problem by marching Pakistani non-regular troops into parts of India. And that led to the Kargil war of 1999, which of course, at that point of time, all the efforts which were made by both prime ministers and both countries, both leaderships at Lahore came to an end.

And of course, as all of us in India know, the Kargil war eventually ended with India getting back the territory, which was taken over by Pakistani irregular troops. But it led to a heavy cost where 572 officers and men of the Indian Army had to lay down their lives because it was a tremendous military action where Indian troops had to climb high hills, mountains, which were under the control of the Pakistani irregular troops. And when an enemy is sitting on the heights, he of course controls all the movement up to the heights. So, there was a large price paid by the Indian army, by its officers and men in reclaiming those areas in Kargil and around Kargil.

So, since then, of course, there have been efforts made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, efforts made by Prime Minister Modi. But none of them has really led to any kind of sustained effort to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan. And I think that is unfortunate because today we are not even trading what most other countries would trade with each other, where it makes sense for Pakistan to buy from India and India to buy from Pakistan. We don’t have normal trade relations between our two countries. And therefore you have to buy it from third parties or through third areas, which leads to higher costs.

So, unfortunately the Pakistan-India relationship has not normalized to the extent that we had wanted. And of course, there is always the problem of cross-border terrorism aided and abetted from Pakistan, which is something which is very, very important for India. We want that to end before we can move ahead another time. So, these are issues which bedevil the India Pakistan relationship. And as those continue, I think the China-Pakistan relationship stays strong as we had discussed.

MADAN: You mentioned the Kargil crisis in 1999. During that crisis or other India-Pakistan crises has China played a role and what, if any, role has it played during these crises over the last few decades?

BAMBAWALE: No, that’s an excellent question, Tanvi, but during the Kargil crisis, I think the Chinese military kept a very low profile on the India-China frontier. They didn’t stir up or they didn’t muddy the waters by creating tensions on the India-China frontier. And even recently, from 2020, when the India-China frontier in eastern Ladakh has been fairly active, has been very active really, our military-to-military relations with Pakistan have been generally on an even keel. In fact, there’s been a revival between India and Pakistan of keeping the India-Pakistan border relatively quiet. So, I think both countries have kept the relationship on an even keel.

And this is a question that you asked, Tanvi. So, let me also mention that in the past, there was a period, especially when there was some kind of better relationship between India and China, post- our then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to Beijing in 1988, that the Chinese leadership kept telling Pakistan that they should work towards a more normal and normalized relationship between Pakistan and India. So, when you had President Jiang Zemin in China and President Hu Jintao in China, both of them counseled Islamabad to try to attempt to build a more normal relationship with India. And that that would help in resolving any other issues that there were between the two countries, including the unresolved frontier or border issue.

So, there was a period when China did counsel restraint on Pakistan and did counsel a more normal or a normalized relationship between New Delhi and Islamabad. Unfortunately, that didn’t come about because the most easy thing for two countries to do is to trade with each other and especially two neighboring countries. And if we had built some kind of trade relationship between Pakistan and India, I think the rest of the relationship would have looked easier to handle, better to handle, but that did not happen. So the rest, as they say, is history.

MADAN: It’s quite interesting in terms of China counseling restraint, because it has been the case that it’s been part of China not wanting to see instability necessarily. It wants kind of that strategic balance that Pakistan helps provide vis-a-vis India, but it doesn’t want instability, not least because that can spill over, including in terms of extremism from their perspective, from Beijing’s perspective, into China as well.

China counseling restraint, I think, was also a difference from what you saw in the earlier wars that India and Pakistan fought. In 1965, when you actually did see China mobilize troops; there was even a clash in the Northeast in India, between China and India, just as the India-Pakistan war was heating up. And in 1971, where China backed Pakistan, supplied it military equipment, but didn’t, contrary to some perhaps expectations in Pakistan, actually intervene—not just expectations in Pakistan, but perhaps amongst President Nixon at that time and National Security Advisor Kissinger, who thought that China would be much more active in intervening on behalf of Pakistan against India. China didn’t do so.

I have heard that China has in the recent India-Pakistan crisis in 2019, not been as helpful as it had in the past to try to kind of deescalate the situation by intervening with Pakistan but largely let things play out on their own. So, perhaps not as active counseling restraint. I don’t know if that’s been your impression or not.

BAMBAWALE: I think you’re absolutely right, Tanvi, because we are looking at a different China, especially under the leadership of Xi Jinping. And I don’t assign or attribute everything to just the leadership, but there is very little doubt that as China grew, and especially post- the 2008 global financial crisis, where Xi came out much stronger, and the West, the United States in particular, but the West also was weaker economically.

But in that period post-2008 and particularly since 2012 when Xi Jinping became the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, there’s no doubt that China has been playing much more on the front foot, it’s been much more aggressive in its dealings in international relations as well as on the ground, whether it’s in the South China Sea, whether it’s with countries like Japan, the Senkaku Islands/the Diaoyu Islands dispute, on the India-China border, with countries like Australia, where China has been very dominant in the economic field and has played on the front foot with Australia.

So, there has been a kind of aggressive streak and aggressiveness in China’s foreign policy. Maybe it’s because they have made an assessment that they have the power now to do that, or it could be just something which is attributable to a particular leader. But I think the fact is that there can be little doubt, as you rightly pointed out, that China has not played that kind of role that it played in Pakistan-India relations post-2012, 2013. And definitely this happened in 2019, as you rightly pointed out. And that is what, of course, makes us a little more apprehensive, a little more careful about what’s happening between China and Pakistan.

But at the same time, of course, the India-U.S. relationship has kept getting stronger, has improved by leaps and bounds, has strengthened by leaps and bounds. And today, we are very, very strong partners of each other, both bilaterally as well as in groupings like the Quad, where we are together with countries like Japan and Australia.

So, there can be very little doubt that this kind of development in international politics has taken place post-2012, 2013, and definitely in the very recent past.

MADAN: You mentioned the U.S., and it’s interesting whenever I think of triangles and relationship triangles—I wrote a book about one—and as I wrote about China-India-U.S., I always thought, there are always other actors that are involved in these relationships. And so if we think about the China-India-Pakistan triangle, you have had particularly the U.S., in the past, also the Soviet Union and Russia, involved or at least been around and affecting the shape of that triangle. As I think of Russia, I think of the JF-17 that you mentioned, the fighter aircraft, the China-Pakistan developed one, which has a Russian engine, even though Russia is one of India and has been one of India’s closest partners.

And so we’ve seen in this case, the Russians have a certain angle, but I think the U.S. in some ways we’ve seen has also played a role in the China-Pakistan dynamic. I always think of the 1970s, ‘80s, where you saw, from India’s perspective, China, Pakistan and the U.S. lined up together and complicating India’s strategic interests.

Does the U.S. factor into the China-Pakistan dynamic today from your perspective?

BAMBAWALE: It does, obviously. I mean, given the fact that the U.S. is the biggest, big power, great power, superpower of the world, and particularly from a military aspect, it is the only superpower in the world. There is very little doubt that the United States does play a role, cast a shadow on the China-Pakistan-India triangle.

But the fact is that the India-U.S. relationship has strengthened immeasurably over the past 10 to 15 years. And Tanvi, you have tracked this, I have tracked this. We know what a big, big difference it is in working together today in different parts of not merely the governments of the two countries, but also the firms, the companies, the businesses, ordinary people, universities across the board.

So, there’s been a complete transformation of the India-U.S. relationship, I think which could play a balancing role in the China-Pakistan relationship. So, definitely the United States, given the fact that it is a great power, does have a role to play in the triangular relationship between India, Pakistan, and China.

MADAN: Indeed, I think today the U.S. and India share a concern about China-Pakistan relations. I do wonder though sometimes, if in some ways that the response might be one area of at least difference: where India sees China-Pakistan ties as problematic, whereas there are, I think, occasionally some in the U.S.—not voices that were as loud as they used to be—but some who say that one of the reasons the U.S. should try to deepen ties with Pakistan is to wean it away from China. And that’s been tried before. It was tried during the Cold War and it didn’t succeed. Partly because of the depth, I think, of the China-Pakistan relationship today, Pakistan might want to diversify.

But it’s hard for it to separate from China in a way that some might think it should or could.

I do want to ask you about the future of the China-Pakistan relationship, but also as you think of the road ahead, what trends in that China-Pakistan dynamic would you be watching most closely?

BAMBAWALE: I think, Tanvi, the fact of the matter is that where the China-Pakistan relationship is concerned, it is the Chinese military and the Pak military which play the lead role. They are the main drivers of the China-Pakistan relationship, not merely the military relationship, but also going beyond that, the political relationship, the economic relationship, et cetera.

So, if the militaries are the main drivers, and in Pakistan you know that the Pak military literally runs the country, they can decide who is going to be the prime minister of Pakistan, and they have been able to do that in the recent past. So, if the drivers of the China-Pakistan relationship are the two militaries, I think that is something which is a big worry for India, because it means that there’s a very close tie, a close nexus between the militaries of the two countries. And it indicates that there will be a stronger military-to-military relationship as we move ahead.

Of course, in the case of Pakistan, that has to be backed up by some economic muscle too. That seems to be lacking today. But if they’re able to stabilize their economy and get some kind of positive economic growth over the next few years, then the relationship does become problematic for India.

So, I think the fact of the matter is that the very nature of the China-Pakistan relationship, which is where the main drivers are the militaries of the two countries, is problematic for us in India.

MADAN: And for that reason, that’s what I often think about the road ahead, that one thing the U.S. needs to be thinking about is, if there is a future India-China crisis, is the U.S. going to be willing and able to play a role to counsel that restraint on Pakistan in terms of not intervening? This was a role the U.S. played during the 1962 war, where there were very tough messages sent by the Kennedy administration to Pakistan saying, “do not intervene,” as India and China engaged in this war. And that’s something perhaps in the future, if, as you mentioned, the China-Pakistan military ties get closer, and there is perhaps even not demand, but a request from China that Pakistan takes certain actions, that the U.S. might need to be more aware of what it might need to do in that instance.

We’ve talked about China’s special relationship with Pakistan. I do want to ask you, given your experience and expertise—you’ve served in Thimphu, in Bhutan—I want to ask you about that special relationship for India, the India-Bhutan relationship. What is the nature of the relationship between India and Bhutan?

BAMBAWALE: It’s a very tight, strong relationship. But I think where I’d like to start, Tanvi, is a little bit of history. So, when you take a nation like Bhutan, where its origins and its religion basically came from Tibet and Buddhism, et cetera. So, when you look at a country like Bhutan, it has always historically and even today seen that the threat to its existence comes from its north and not from its south. That is something which you have to be able to understand.

And even during the period when we had British India, over 200 years, and certain parts of Bhutan were captured by British India, even then, and it continues now with independent India, Bhutan and the Bhutanese people always think that the threat to their very existence comes from their north and not from their south.

So, they know where their bread is buttered. It’s buttered on the southern side of their Himalayan Kingdom. And, therefore, over the decades they have built a very strong relationship with independent India. It continues even today. I am sure that Bhutan would like to settle its boundary issue with China, so there have been recent moves and we have seen them—there have been expressions of that interest from the Bhutanese government too, that they would like to settle and have a settled boundary with China. But eventually the strong partnership with India is something which is very, very important to the Bhutanese people and to the Bhutanese government and to the kings of Bhutan.

But that’s the way that Thimphu looks at things.

And, therefore, it has built a very strong relationship with India and doesn’t have much of a relationship with China.

MADAN: And a particularly strong India-Bhutan military relationship that’s very close. Just a couple of follow-ups perhaps. You mentioned the Bhutan-China boundary dispute. There’ve been several rounds of talks between Bhutan and China. China often says it’s settled most of its boundary disputes. It hasn’t settled the ones with either India or Bhutan. There have been talks between the Bhutanese and Chinese recently. We’ve seen the Bhutanese foreign minister go to Beijing. How closely does India watch these Bhutan-China dynamics? And would India be concerned if there was a settlement between Bhutan and China on the boundary or is that something India would accept and move on with?

BAMBAWALE: The fact of the matter is that the Bhutan-China boundary and where it lies also has implications for India and for the India-China boundary. And therefore, I think India and Bhutan have worked very closely with each other on a final settlement of both boundaries with China.

I think even today, as the Bhutanese move forward in their discussions and negotiations with China on their own boundary settlement, they will factor in the concerns of India. And these have been shared with the Bhutanese people, with the Bhutanese government and with Thimphu. And they will factor those concerns in, and especially the implications of a China-Bhutan boundary settlement for India, and the India-China boundary. Those are matters where I am very confident that the Bhutanese government would factor in Indian concerns. And let’s see where the boundary discussions lead to.

I couldn’t agree more with Thimphu that having a settled boundary would be better. In the case of the India-China boundary also having a settled boundary would be better. But I think at this point in time, India is not ready to concede or settle the boundary on the kind of discussions that we have had between us, that is India on the one hand and the Chinese on the other. So, let’s see where the boundary negotiations between Bhutan and China move. And we will take it from there.

MADAN: Just a brief follow up for those of our listeners who aren’t aware, you mentioned kind of the implications for any Bhutan-China boundary settlement for India. Why exactly does that Bhutan-China border matter, or even the Bhutan-China-India tri-junction, why does that matter so much for India in terms of how that might end up?

BAMBAWALE: So, what you said Tanvi is absolutely critical that there is a tri-junction point between what will be a Bhutan-China boundary and India-China boundary and an India-Bhutan boundary. And that tri-junction point is very, very important where India-China boundary negotiations, discussions are concerned, because the fact is that at that point where the tri-junction lies is very close to what we call the crow’s nest, which is a little bit of territory which joins the rest of peninsular India with its northeast. And it’s very critical for us for the defense of India, for the defense of that territory of India, and for communication lines to India’s east and northeast. It is very, very critical.

So, where that tri-junction point lies between the three countries and how we negotiate that tri-junction point is critical for the defense of India.

MADAN: In fact, in 2017, the military standoff that took place between India and China was not an India-China boundary standoff, but actually a Bhutan-China one in which India was involved as well, and it took place at Doklam in 2017 for those unaware.

Ambassador Bambawale, you’ve taken us from Pakistan on one side to Bhutan on the other, one of South Asia’s largest states to one of South Asia’s smallest states, and the China-India dynamics there. But I want to end our conversation with a lightning round question that we ask all our speakers, which is this question of what is the biggest myth or misunderstanding you have heard about China-Pakistan relations or about India’s view of China-Pakistan relations?

BAMBAWALE: I think this whole thing, you know, about being higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans, I think is a myth. And the reason why it’s a myth is that there is little doubt that the two countries do have congruent interests. But the fact of the matter is that at a deeper level, at a level of values, and at a level of people-to-people interaction, there’s not much common between the two countries. So, yes, while interests are congruent, I think values and the people-to-people aspect of the relationship, which are very important for any two countries, are still a far cry from being deeper than the oceans and higher than the mountains.

MADAN: With that, Ambassador Bambawale, thank you so much for joining us for this conversation and really taking us on this long journey across northern India from Pakistan to Bhutan and China as well. Thank you so much.

BAMBAWALE: Great pleasure to be with you, Tanvi.

MADAN: Thank you for tuning in to the Global India podcast. I’m Tanvi Madan, senior fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. You can find research about India and more episodes of this show on our website, Brookings dot edu slash Global India.

Global India is brought to you by the Brookings Podcast Network, and we’ll be releasing new episodes every two weeks. Send any feedback or questions to podcasts at Brookings dot edu.

My thanks to the production team, including Kuwilileni Hauwanga, supervising producer; Fred Dews and Raman Preet Kaur, producers; Gastón Reboredo, audio engineer; and Daniel Morales, video editor.

My thanks also to Alexandra Dimsdale and Hanna Foreman for their support, and to Shavanthi Mendis, who designed the show art. Additional support for the podcast comes from my colleagues in the Foreign Policy program and the Office of Communications at Brookings.

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‘Come and say g’day’: Albanese pitches new campaign to woo Chinese tourists

By david crowe, save articles for later.

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Shanghai: The federal government is trying to restore $12.4 billion in annual tourism business by urging Chinese travellers to return to Australia as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rebuilds relations with an official visit to Shanghai and Beijing.

Albanese used a major tourism event in Shanghai to highlight the stronger relationship to 420 business chiefs who are crucial to the travel and tourism trade.

About 1.4 million Chinese travellers visited Australia each year before the pandemic, but the business has been slow to recover from the COVID-era travel bans in both countries.

The federal government is hoping to restore the country’s tourism business by encouraging Chinese travellers to return to Australia. Credit: Tamara Dean

Tourism Australia, which is hosting the event for Albanese and Trade Minister Don Farrell on Sunday, estimates the visitor numbers in August were 50 per cent of the numbers before the pandemic.

About 58,000 travellers visited in August, the government agency says, and most of them were tourists rather than people visiting family members. The Chinese government approved group tours in August.

The theme of the Tourism Australia pitch to Chinese travellers is “Come and say G’day” and is being advertised to the Chinese market.

One challenge for the tourism trade is the restriction on airline capacity, which is 86 per cent of what it was before the pandemic.

Most flights to and from Australia are operated by China Southern, China Eastern and Air China. Qantas resumed flights to Shanghai last Sunday.

Albanese met with the tourism industry chiefs in Shanghai, including companies that promote and book travel to Australia, before attending the opening session of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

In a sign of the warming relationship between Australia and China, the prime minister had a private dinner with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday night, shortly after arriving in Shanghai.

In brief remarks after that dinner, Albanese said it was “wonderful” to be in China as the first prime minister to visit in seven years.

“We must cooperate with China where we can, we will disagree where we must, but we will also engage in our national interest,” he said.

“It is in Australia’s interests to have a positive and constructive and open and respectful dialogue with our major trading partner. And that’s what I hope to achieve over the coming days.”

Albanese will hold further meetings with Li before a formal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday.

After speaking to the Tourism Australia event on Sunday, the prime minister toured the expo to talk to some of the 250 Australian exporters who are exhibiting at the event.

The exhibitors include Lark Distillery of Tasmania, Tamar Valley Fruits, Austral Fisheries, Blackmores and Sanitarium.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .

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Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif Sits With Secretary Kerry …
The country has a lot of potential for tourism, Prime Minister

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COMMENTS

Welcome to Pakistan
As the Minister for Tourism in Pakistan, I am taking practical steps to promote tourism and turn Pakistan into a paradise for tourists. The fruits of these efforts will soon reach the tourists, and we are committed to making Pakistan a top tourist destination. ... Federal Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division, Mr. Youssef Filali ...
Department of Tourist Services
Controller DTS holding meeting on 27-09-2023 with representatives of TAAP, PATO, Alpine Club of Pakistan to discus... September 18, 2023 Notice for General Public...
Cabinet of Pakistan
The Cabinet of Pakistan (Urdu: کابینہ پاکستان, Kābīnā-e-Pākistān) is a formal body composed of senior government officials chosen and led by the Prime Minister. All cabinet members sworn in are designated Minister and are seated at their respective ministries located in the Pakistan Secretariat.. The Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan serves as the administrative head of the ...
Cabinet Division
Federal Minister: Portfolio: 1: Ms. Shamshad Akhtar • Finance • Revenue • Economic Affairs: 2: Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani • Foreign Affairs : 3: ... Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Islamabad Club, Islamabad (IC) Printing Corporation of Pakistan (PCP) National Archives of Pakistan;
Cabinet Division
October 04, 2023. In partial modification of Cabinet Division's Notification No. 3-1/2023-Min-I dated 17th August,2023, the name of ... September 15, 2023. On appointment of Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad as the caretaker Federal Minister for Privatization, Ms. Shamshad Akhtar s... September 15, 2023.
Govt taking steps to promote tourism in country: President
Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana said a national tourism plan has been devised as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to promote tourism in the country. He said Prime Minister himself is monitoring the progress on development and facilitation process in tourism sector.
Prospects Of Sustainable Tourism In Pakistan
As a result, tourism was included in the ministry's renaming in 1976. In 1970, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) was created by the federal government. ... It was a federal ...
Zulfi Bukhari appointed chairman of Pakistan Tourism Development
The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the appointment of Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari as the chairman of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), the ...
News
October 15, 2020. Sustainable tourism development is a priority area for the government. Pakistan is committed to opening avenues that contribute to the socioeconomic prosperity of our people, particularly the marginalized segments of the society. In addition to the sectoral consultations, the process of development included secondary research ...
Miller still hopes to see Afghans from Pakistan arrive in 'next few
The federal government is still speaking to counterparts in Pakistan and planning for flights of Afghans to arrive here from Islamabad in the next few weeks, Immigration Minister Marc Miller told ...
Immigration department asking would-be Afghan migrants to reach out if
CBC News has learned the federal government is warning would-be Afghan migrants waiting on their applications to be completed in Pakistan that they should not leave their accommodations in case ...
National Assembly of Pakistan
National Assembly of Pakistan. About the National Assembly. History. Legislative Business. Members. Committees. Media Center. Federal Ministers Show Slides Print List.
Towards the Development of Sustainable Tourism in Pakistan: A ...
The tourism policy 2010 was had many clauses indicating the importance of sustainable tourism in Pakistan. After the 18th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan, the federal ministry being abolished created a vacuum for watching the tourism sector affairs at the national level.
PDF Research Report on Tourism Industry of Pakistan
departments and agencies. In 2010, the Tourism Ministry drafted a relatively more comprehensive National Tourism Policy. The policy identified challenges and constraints for tourism industry in Pakistan, followed by marketing and developmental strategies. The marketing strategy emphasized on public
PDF List of Federal Ministers
Federal Minister Political and Public Affairs, with the status of Federal Minister, also assign the Portfolio of National Heritage & Culture Division 27-04-2022 to 05-08-2022 05-08-2022 to Mr. Awn Chaudhry Sports and Tourism, with the status of Federal Minister 10-05-2022 to Mr. Ahad Khan Cheema Establishment, with the status of Federal Minister
Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan
Moreover, in order to complement 100 days agenda of the government, new destinations were highlighted, based on their potential and proposed activities, to be developed in all provinces and regions of Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that Pakistan has huge potential in tourism sector and tourism has increased phenomenally during last ...
PM for centre-province liaison on tourism
PM Kakar said owing to serene natural beauty, huge opportunities existed in Pakistan in the tourism sector. Wasi Shah briefed the prime minister about the steps taken on tourism at the federal ...
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan (Urdu: حکومتِ پاکستان, romanized: Hakūmat-e-Pākistān; abbreviated as GoP), constitutionally known as the Federal Government (Urdu: وفاقی حکومت), commonly known as the Centre (Urdu: مرکز), is the national authority of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a federal parliamentary republic consisting of four provinces, two autonomous ...
National folk festival helping in cultural tourism promotion
By Staff Report. ISLAMABAD: The National Folk Festival (Lok Mela) was helping in promoting cultural tourism as a large number of local tourists coming from various parts of the country to enjoy ...
Ministry of Tourism (Pakistan)
The Ministry of Tourism was a ministry of the Government of Pakistan. It was established to develop the tourism industry in Pakistan. It was abolished after the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was passed. Its main objectives and functions were largely transferred to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).
Government of Pakistan
The Prime Minister Mr. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. Mr. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar took oath of office as the 8th caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan on 14th August 2023. He was elected as an independent senator from Balochistan province for a tenure of March 2018 to March 2024.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (MSFA) is the junior minister within the Cabinet of Pakistan who serves as the second highest-ranking member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the Foreign Minister.. During the absence of a Foreign Minister, Minister of State takes the de facto charge Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There were two such instances in the past; Siddiq Khan Kanju was ...
Govt planning multiple initiatives to boost tourism
Foreing direct investment up 88pc to $2.56bn in 2020. ISLAMABAD: The federal government is planning to roll out multiple initiatives in a bid to revitalize the tourism industry and project a positive image of Pakistan globally through the use of modern means of communication. "After successfully suppressing the coronavirus pandemic in the ...
Country well-stocked with wheat reserves: ministry
It added that Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) has a stock of 1.78 million tonnes, Punjab 4.021m tonnes, Sindh 0.817m tonnes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 0.227m tonnes and ...
Visit of German Foreign Minister to Pakistan
6 June 2022. 267/2022. At the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Annalena Baerbock, will visit Pakistan on 7-8 June 2022. This will be Foreign Minister Baerbock's first visit to Pakistan. During the visit, the two Foreign Ministers will hold ...
CURTAIN RAISER : Visit of the Prime Minister to Türkiye (25-26 ...
At the invitation of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will pay a two-day official visit to Türkiye, from 25-26 November 2022. Alongside President Erdogan, the Prime Minister will jointly inaugurate the third of the four MILGEM Corvette Ships for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Khaibar, at the Istanbul Shipyard. The …
Pakistan
Pakistan (Urdu: پَاکِسْتَان [ˈpaːkɪstaːn]), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (ISO: اِسْلامی جَمْہُورِیَہ پَاکِسْتَان, islāmi jamhūriyāh pākistān), is a country in South Asia.It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of 241.5 million people, and has the world's largest Muslim population as of 2023.
How India Sees China's Ties with Pakistan and Bhutan
39 min read. Downloads. Full Transcript. China-aligned Pakistan and India-aligned Bhutan are both neighbors of India and China. In this episode of Global India, Tanvi Madan speaks with Ambassador ...
Albanese's China trip: Prime Minister in push to bring back Chinese tourism
The federal government is trying to restore $12.4 billion in annual tourism business by urging Chinese travellers to return to Australia, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rebuilds relations with ...