Pakistan's cabinet approved negotiations for a long-term defense agreement with its close ally China in July. The revelation comes barely a week after India, and the US signed a key defense deal to enhance military cooperation.

The go-ahead to pursue long-term defense deal with China was given after Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a cabinet meeting in Lahore on July 15, Times of India reported. The defense agreement between China and Pakistan is expected to be based on principles of mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

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For many decades, China has been offering military and economic aid to Pakistan, which has helped in the countering hegemony of its arch-rival India in South Asia. Its close military ties with Islamabad have also helped China to keep a tab on India.

Islamabad's latest bid to further enhance the military ties with China is seen as a strategy to counter balance the recent Indo-US military deal. The Indo-US military deal allows both countries to use each other's land, air and naval bases for repair and resupply. The deal was sealed during US Defence Secretary Ash Carter's visit to India last week.    

Pakistan did not criticize the deal but said it hoped that it does not contribute to polarizing and distributing the military balance in South Asia.

South Asia experts claim that last week's US-Indo military agreement is a step forward for America to help India in shoring up its military defense against China. America apparently sees India as a key ally to counter China's growing influence in Asia.

TagsPakistan, India, India and China, China and Pakistan, Indo-US Defense deal