– Currently, China’s total lending to Pakistan stands around $26 billion, including cash deposits and trade-finance schemes.
– Beijing has periodically rolled over loans to keep Pakistan afloat economically.
China’s increasing financial influence in Pakistan highlights critical geopolitical dynamics relevant for India’s regional policy considerations. while these loans provide short-term relief for islamabad amidst economic turmoil, they deepen its dependency on Beijing-potentially creating long-term vulnerabilities within south Asia’s economic sphere.
From an Indian perspective, these developments underline the need for vigilance regarding how China’s growing presence might shape regional alliances or leverage-sensitive projects like CPEC (China-Pakistan economic Corridor). However, it also illustrates challenges that nations face when overly reliant on external financing without broader economic reforms-a cautionary tale contextualized by India’s historically cautious approach toward bilateral lending dependencies.
A clear takeaway is that balancing sovereignty with external assistance remains pivotal not just for neighbors but across interconnected economies globally.