China’s Military Support To Pakistan In PoK Raises Concerns Along LoC

Over the past three years, China, a key ally of Pakistan, has been actively enhancing the defense capabilities of the Pakistani army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. This support includes the construction of steelhead bunkers, provision of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Combat Aerial Vehicles (CAVs), officials revealed today.

Chinese assistance in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) extends to the installation of highly encrypted communication towers and laying of underground fiber cables along the LoC.

Furthermore, officials informed Press Trust of India that advanced radar systems of Chinese origin, such as the ‘JY’ and ‘HGR’ series, have been deployed to improve medium and low altitude target detection capabilities, thereby offering crucial intelligence support to army and air defense units.

Furthermore, the presence of the SH-15, a 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer gun produced by a Chinese company, has been observed at various locations along the LoC.

This initiative is viewed as part of China’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with Pakistan and safeguard Chinese investments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), particularly concerning the ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’ (CPEC).

While the presence of senior PLA officials at forward posts, as detected in 2014, was not observed, some intercepts indicated that Chinese troops and engineers were establishing infrastructure along the LoC, including constructing underground bunkers.

Chinese experts were reportedly involved in tunnel construction in the Leepa Valley of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), indicating preparations for an all-weather road to connect with the Karakoram Highway.

This strategic maneuver is linked to Beijing’s ambitious $46 billion ‘CPEC’ project, which aims to establish a direct route between Gwadar Port in Balochistan and China’s Xinjiang region via the Karakoram Highway, an area under China’s illegal occupation.

In 2007, a Chinese telecom company acquired a Pakistani telecom company, forming China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak), a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile Communications Corporation.

In August 2022, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) renewed CMPak’s (Zong) mobile license for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and granted permission to expand Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) in the region.

While the Indian Army has chosen to remain silent on the issue, intelligence agencies are reportedly monitoring the developments closely.

The ongoing presence of Chinese military personnel in the area has sparked concerns, with India previously objecting to Chinese activities in Gilgit and Baltistan areas in PoK.

As tensions persist, India remains vigilant and prepared to counter any potential threats from across the border, officials informed Press Trust of India.