Islamabad, Beijing activate joint border commission

Islamabad: On Wednesday, Pakistan and China inaugurated a long-awaited joint mechanism for managing their shared border, marking a significant step in their bilateral relations and closer coordination on border management, trade, and cross-border connectivity. The Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission was established based on the 2013 Agreement on the Boundary Management System, signed during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Islamabad.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad described the operationalization of the commission as a "significant milestone for Pakistan-China relations," emphasizing its role in enhancing cooperation in various aspects of border management, joint surveys, trade flows, and people-to-people connectivity. The commission's establishment is distinct from the Joint Boundary Demarcation Commission, which was created under the Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, and primarily focused on conducting surveys and establishing boundary markers.

The new commission comes into play after the demarcation process was completed, providing an ongoing framework for addressing practical issues along the border, such as maintenance, cross-border facilities, and incident handling. Notably, India rejected the new mechanism, stating that there is no boundary between Pakistan and China and rejecting the so-called Joint Commission, which it claims lacks a legal basis.