china-boosts-pakistan-s-firepower-along-loc

Pakistan's only and all-weather ally China has been actively enhancing the Pakistani army's defence capabilities along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.

The assistance includes constructing steelhead bunkers and providing Unmanned Aerial and Combat Aerial Vehicles.

 

Chinese support also features building highly encrypted communication towers and deploying subterranean fibre optic cables along the LoC.

 Modern radar systems, such as the 'JY' and 'HGR' series, have been installed to improve target detection capabilities, providing critical intelligence to the army and air defense forces.

Additionally, Chinese military hardware, including the SH-15, a 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer artillery capable of firing nuclear rounds, has been deployed at multiple points along the LoC. 

 

This move aims to boost China-Pakistan relations and protect Chinese investments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, notably those tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

 

Though the presence of top PLA commanders at forward posts was not discovered during 2014, intercepts indicated that Chinese troops and engineers were establishing infrastructure along the LoC, including subterranean bunkers. 

 

Reports also suggest Chinese specialists are working on tunnel construction in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Leepa Valley, hinting at plans for an all-weather route connecting to the Karakoram Highway.

 

This strategic move aligns with Beijing's $46 billion CPEC project, aiming to connect Gwadar Port in Pakistan to China's Xinjiang region via the Karakoram Highway.

 

 The Indian Army has remained silent on the subject, but intelligence agencies are closely monitoring developments.

 

The ongoing presence of Chinese military forces in the region has raised concerns for India. 

 

India has previously objected to Chinese activity in Gilgit and Baltistan and remains vigilant against potential threats from across the border, officials added.