Srinagar, May 3 — As gunfire between India and Pakistan continues along the Line of Control in the divided region of Kashmir, China’s firm backing of Pakistan—stating it will defend Pakistan’s sovereignty against any military threat—has added a new and critical dimension to the ongoing escalation.
While the world has largely urged restraint, recent remarks from China and Bangladesh reveal the positions of regional neighbours in the geopolitical conflict surrounding Kashmir.
With Victor Gao, a well-known Chinese analyst and former diplomat, stating that China will defend Pakistan’s sovereignty against any military threat in the world, retired Bangladeshi officer Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman (retd) has called on his government to occupy India’s northeastern region if Delhi goes to war with Islamabad.
“China & Pakistan are all-weather ironclad allies. No one should second guess this alliance between China and Pakistan. China will always come to Pakistan's help and assistance whenever Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity will be threatened by any country. China's full commitment is to defend Pakistan sovereignty,” Gao said.
He stressed that China would take any attack on Pakistan “very seriously” and would offer active assistance if Pakistan's sovereignty was at risk.
This announcement, made during an interview, comes after authorities in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir shut down more than 1,000 religious schools over fears of possible military action from India following last week’s deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir’s Pahalgam, suggesting that any military move by either side could carry broader implications across South Asia.
On the Pahalgam attack, Gao said China has consistently demanded a full investigation, aligning its position with Pakistan, which has called for the same.
“China had always asked for full investigations,” he said, adding that Beijing supports Islamabad’s call for a “transparent and impartial investigation.”
Meanwhile, Provocative comments continue to pour in from Bangladesh with Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman (retd), who once headed the Bangladesh Rifles (now known as Border Guards Bangladesh), has called on his government to occupy India's northeastern region if Delhi goes to war with Islamabad.
“If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy all northeastern states," he had written on Facebook in Bengali.
“I think Bangladesh should talk to China about a joint military decision regarding this,” he said.
Though Shafiqul Alam, the press adviser to Mr. Yunus—the chief adviser to the Bangladesh government—said the comments did not reflect the government’s views, such statements from senior officials appointed by Muhammad Yunus have been frequent since the Pahalgam attack.
Since the Pahalgam attack, both countries have taken severe measures against each other, including expelling diplomats, evacuating nationals, and separating families. Trade has been halted, airspace closed, and social media accounts suspended, with India notably shutting down many Pakistani accounts. Despite ongoing gunfire along the Line of Control (LoC) and missile tests, no major retaliation or widespread retribution has occurred, even though threats between the two nations continue to escalate.
If hostilities between India and Pakistan intensify, China’s involvement is likely due to its commitment to defending Pakistan, while the U.S.’s support for India could escalate the situation beyond expected repercussions.