One of Sharif’s first statements as the margin of his win became clear was
to express a wish for improved ties with his country’s long-time rival India,
inviting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his swearing-in ceremony. Singh, for
his part, was the first national leader to congratulate him.
China, which had closely allied itself with the previous Pakistan
People’s Party-led government, took much longer to offer its congratulations, the
words finally coming in a news conference where Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong
Lei said China was willing “to continue to support Pakistan in its efforts to
protect national stability and promote national development”.
In a less than gushing endorsement, the spokesman made reference to the
two countries being “all-weather friends”, interpreted by some that China saw
the relationship entering a squally period, while expecting it to survive.
Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League will not have an absolute majority in
Parliament, but it will be close enough to ensure it can work with minor
parties to form a government and not have to bring either the PPP or Imran
Khan’s Movement for Justice Party into the coalition, leaving him virtually a
free hand in the country’s foreign relations.
That could be interesting says China expert Swaran Singh of Jawaharal
Nehru University in New Delhi. “After Sharif was ousted in a military coup in
1999 he appealed for help from China and was rebuffed,” Professor Singh said.
“So he has bad memories.
“However, I expect he will find a way of dealing with it and in the end
China doesn’t really care who is in charge.”
Even so, a rapprochement between India and Pakistan will hardly be
welcome in Beijing which counted Islamabad as one of its few allies in a region
growing wary of its increasing military profile.
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