Thu Dec 19 15:06:52 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan’s Nuclear Demand Stalls China Gwadar Port Deal

**ISLAMABAD/BEIJING** – Strained relations between Pakistan and China have escalated following Pakistan’s audacious demand for advanced nuclear technology in exchange for allowing China to establish a military base at the strategic Gwadar port. The request, made during high-level talks, involved Pakistan demanding China provide it with a second-strike nuclear capability – a highly sophisticated military deterrent enabling a retaliatory nuclear strike even after a devastating initial attack.

This unprecedented request, described by sources as an “arm-twisting tactic,” was flatly rejected by Beijing. The Chinese government has indefinitely suspended further negotiations, leaving Pakistan facing significant economic and military repercussions. Islamabad heavily relies on China for financial aid and arms supplies.

The dispute centers around the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, with Gwadar port a key component. While Pakistan had previously given assurances to allow a Chinese military base at Gwadar, it is now demanding China provide it with the capability to develop a nuclear triad (land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems) in return. This demand is seen as a bid to match India’s nuclear arsenal.

This move has profound implications. Providing Pakistan with such technology would violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), exposing China to international sanctions. The rejection also highlights growing tensions between the two nations, exacerbated by Pakistan’s recent refusal to allow a Chinese naval port call during a joint military exercise – a move reportedly influenced by US pressure.

The fallout from this diplomatic breakdown could be severe for Pakistan, already grappling with economic instability, political turmoil, and accusations of rigged elections. The country’s military, heavily reliant on Chinese arms, finds itself in a precarious position. Observers suggest Pakistan’s actions might be a desperate attempt to secure its geopolitical standing, even at the risk of jeopardizing its crucial relationship with China.

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