China’s support for Pakistan-linked terror proxies is amplifying tensions with India and raising alarms over Beijing’s credibility and strategic security in South Asia.
At a Glance
- China blocked India’s UN bid to blacklist Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front
- The groups claimed responsibility for an April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir
- India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, targeting Pakistani terror infrastructure
- China criticized India’s countermeasures despite ongoing CPEC vulnerabilities
- Experts warn China’s selective stance on terrorism could backfire domestically and diplomatically
Beijing’s Proxy Gamble
China’s growing entanglement with Pakistan’s militant proxies is increasingly seen as a geopolitical calculation with high risk. On April 22, a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF) prompted India to demand their designation as global terrorist entities at the United Nations. China, wielding its veto power at the UN Security Council, blocked the motion—prompting accusations of shielding terror networks to protect strategic alliances.
India’s military responded with Operation Sindoor, a precision counterterrorism campaign targeting terror hubs across Pakistan and disputed territories. While Beijing condemned India’s offensive, experts say such rhetoric exposes a contradictory foreign policy: one that promotes “peaceful rise” diplomacy abroad while enabling instability closer to home.
Watch a report: UN Silent on TRF Despite India’s Dossier.
CPEC and Strategic Blowback
At the heart of Beijing’s support lies the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion infrastructure lifeline passing through politically volatile regions. China’s tacit defense of militant groups is seen by many analysts as an attempt to preserve its investments—especially in Balochistan, where local unrest threatens major development nodes.
But the strategy is fraught with danger. Domestic unrest in regions like Xinjiang, where separatist sentiments persist, could be fueled by Beijing’s double standard on terror. Critics warn that supporting proxies abroad while clamping down on domestic dissent risks undermining internal security.
Tweet: China’s support for Pakistan-based terror groups may be short-sighted.
Fraying Regional Stability
China’s media ecosystem has amplified narratives that discredit India’s military response, further fueling regional animosity. Experts argue this propaganda push reflects deeper insecurity over India’s expanding diplomatic clout and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s firm stance marks a shift from reactive diplomacy to proactive deterrence. In contrast, China’s continued obstruction of anti-terror motions at the UN raises uncomfortable questions: can a global superpower afford to be seen as a sponsor—directly or indirectly—of terrorism?
Unless Beijing recalibrates, its short-term political maneuvering may yield long-term strategic erosion. For a country hoping to expand its global leadership, legitimizing terror proxies may prove a costly miscalculation.
