Pakistan recently applied for the BRICS cooperation mechanism and hopes that Russia can help. For many, such a choice may be somewhat strange, given that China, as one of the founding members of the BRICS, has a high voice within the mechanism, and Pakistan has always had a close relationship with China. So why didn't Pakistan choose to turn to Russia for help from China?
One of the main reasons is the presence of India. As one of the original members of the BRICS, India also has the power to decide whether Pakistan's accession is successful. If Pakistan chooses to seek help from China, it is likely to arouse India's disgust and dissatisfaction, which will not be conducive to Pakistan's successful entry into the BRICS cooperation mechanism. Especially in the current tensions between China and India, India has already regarded China as an "adversary", so it is likely that Pakistan will not be able to join the BRICS smoothly.
In addition, Pakistan takes into account the contradictions with India. Due to historical reasons, disputes and conflicts between India and Pakistan have always existed, and there have even been incidents of gun violence. Pakistan must be very careful in its relations with India and avoid giving India a chance to deal with itself. Russia's neutral stance on the India-Pakistan dispute and its good relations with India make Pakistan's choice of Russia's help a wise move.
In addition, Pakistan hopes to use Russia's influence and status to push itself to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. Next year, the BRICS will be held by Russia, which means that Russia will have a greater say next year. Pakistan was able to seize this opportunity and hoped to gain more support through cooperation with Russia.
The fact that Pakistan chose to seek help from Russia does not mean that Pakistan does not attach importance to its relations with China. In fact, China-Pakistan relations have always been an important pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy, and the two countries have close cooperation in the political, economic, and security fields.
The scope of cooperation between China and Pakistan is very extensive. On the political front, Pakistan has always firmly supported the one-China policy and actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the two countries in regional and international affairs. On the economic front, China is one of Pakistan's largest partners and investors. The two countries' unique models of economic cooperation, such as the Pakistan Economic Corridor project, have breathed new vitality into the relationship. In addition, in the field of security, China and Pakistan have maintained close military cooperation to jointly respond to terrorism and regional security threats.
Pakistan's choice to seek Russian help is more out of strategic considerations than out of distrust or alienation from China. In the current complex and volatile international situation, Pakistan needs to flexibly use various diplomatic resources to achieve its national interests.
To sum up, Pakistan's choice to seek Russia's help in applying for the BRICS cooperation mechanism has not weakened the friendly and cooperative relations between Pakistan and China. Considering the existence of India and the contradictions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan chose to seek help from Russia in the current situation of India's hostile attitude towards China, which can effectively avoid provoking India. In addition, with the help of Russia's influence and position, Pakistan wants to maximize its own interests in the BRICS cooperation mechanism.
For me personally, this story provoked me to think about international relations. In the international arena, each country has its own interests and strategic considerations, and the way in which partners are chosen varies depending on the relationship between countries. Pakistan's choice to seek Russia's help illustrates the need for a country to use its diplomatic resources flexibly to defend its interests under certain circumstances. However, the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Pakistan remain firm, which will provide a more solid foundation for future cooperation between the two countries. The most important thing is that in international relations, we should understand and respect the choices and interests of all countries and strive to build mutually beneficial and win-win cooperative relations in order to achieve long-term stability and prosperity.