The statements in this article are based on reliable sources of information and are detailed at the end of this article
Text | Gu Xuan said history
Edit | Gu Xuan said history
In 1968, the mainland sent a mysterious force to Pakistan for a covert operation, consisting of tens of thousands of brave men, whose mission was to complete a critical mission. [Rose]
But this mission is not an easy task, it is full of unknown risks and challenges, before this operation, each team member was asked to prepare a coffin, what is this for?
01
China-Pakistan friendship
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1951, China and Pakistan have maintained a special closeness, and this deep friendship is reflected not only in political and economic cooperation, but also in the mutual assistance and support between the two peoples.
Among them, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has won the respect and love of the Chinese people for his deep feelings for China and his efforts to actively promote the development of Sino-Pakistani relations.
However, as the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union intensified, Pakistan's situation became increasingly difficult, and India, with the support of the United States and the Soviet Union, and its tough attitude on the Sino-Indian border issue, made Pakistan feel enormous pressure, and in this context, Pakistan turned to China for assistance, and China did not hesitate to give support.
During Musharraf's presidency, he devoted himself to maintaining and developing friendly relations between China and Pakistan and made important contributions to the development of relations between the two countries.
Especially after the 2005 South Asia earthquake, China provided tremendous assistance to Pakistan, fully demonstrating the deep friendship between the two countries.
At the critical juncture of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the Pakistani government reacted quickly and did everything in its power to support China, mobilizing all transport planes, using national reserve funds, and even using all national disaster material reserves to support China. Pakistan's selfless assistance has deeply touched the Chinese people, and this spirit of friendship and sharing weal and woe will always be remembered in our hearts.
On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, which coincides with the global spread of the new crown epidemic, China and Pakistan have once again demonstrated their deep friendship in the face of the epidemic.
Pakistan was touched by the deep friendship that Pakistan quickly provided to us with medical supplies after the outbreak of the epidemic in Wuhan, and China did not hesitate to lend a helping hand when the epidemic spread in Pakistan, sending medical teams and providing a large amount of medical supplies.
These actions are not only a continuation of the mutual assistance between China and Pakistan during the Wenchuan earthquake, but also a manifestation and sublimation of the deep friendship between China and Pakistan in the new era.
President Musharraf's charisma and great contributions will always be remembered in the hearts of the people of the two countries, and we are deeply saddened by his passing, but we also believe that the friendship between China and Pakistan will be like the road built together, which will endure forever and live on earth.
If we want to talk about this road, we have to start with the conflict between India and Pakistan......
02
India-Pakistan conflict
In the mid-20th century, the political map of the South Asian subcontinent changed dramatically, and the British colonizers were forced to abandon their centuries-long domination of the Indian continent after the crushing blow of World War II.
This decision led to the partition of India and Pakistan, which were originally part of the same ethnic group but were forced to separate because of religious differences, but the territorial dispute between the two countries over Kashmir was the beginning of a long period of strife.
Kashmir has been a multi-ethnic and multi-religious region since ancient times, and during the British colonial period, the region did not belong to any one party.
After the British withdrawal, India and Pakistan asserted their own claims to Kashmir, which led to an armed conflict between the two countries, and in 1947, the First Indo-Pakistani War began in Kashmir, where the two sides fought fiercely over the land.
Although the war ended with the United Nations intervening in mediation, the question of the ownership of Kashmir has not been completely resolved, and it has become a scar in India-Pakistan relations that will not heal.
In 1965, the Second Indo-Pakistani War broke out as territorial disputes over Kashmir intensified, in which Pakistan suffered an initial setback and was forced to retreat near its borders.
At this time, the Pakistani government sent a distress signal to the world, but unfortunately, no country was willing to lend a hand, at this critical moment, China stepped forward, provided Pakistan with a large amount of military assistance, including tanks and weapons, and sent military experts to provide tactical guidance, with these assistance, Pakistan successfully turned the tide of the war and won the war.
At the same time, India's relations with China are also becoming increasingly tense, and India has been coveting China's territory for a long time, constantly creating incidents in the Sino-Indian border area.
In 1962, the Sino-Indian border war broke out, and the Chinese army won the war with absolute superiority, and the outcome of the war further deepened India's hostility towards China, and the relationship between the two countries fell into a long-term stalemate.
Against this backdrop, Pakistan has established a cooperative relationship with China based on common interests, and both countries face threats from India, which brings them together naturally.
Driven by Pakistan's strategic interest in building up its own power to meet India's challenge, and China's desire to expand its influence in South Asia through cooperation with Pakistan, the leaders of the two countries have become in close contact and jointly planned a series of major cooperation projects.
03
Reach a partnership
In September 1965, General Farouk, as a representative of the Pakistan Army Engineer Command, eagerly set foot on Chinese soil to seek our help.
He made us a crucial request: the construction of a critical road for northern Pakistan, which is not only essential to support the economic development of the region, but also a powerful guarantee of security in the region.
After thinking about it for a long time, Premier Zhou decided to support Pakistan because he believed that this request was in line with China's national interests, and that it would help promote the ties between China and Pakistan and break the constraints of some countries on China's development.
As a result, China and Pakistan signed an agreement in March 1966 to cooperate in the construction of a road to improve traffic conditions in northern Pakistan.
According to the agreement, the China-Pakistan Highway is divided into two sections, the eastern section of which stretches from Kashgar in China to Khunjerab for a total length of about 420 kilometers, and the western section, which runs from Takot in Pakistan to Khunjerab for a total length of 616 kilometers.
According to the agreement, the two countries are responsible for the construction of the road section within their territory, and the Chinese side assumes the responsibility of providing the necessary equipment, machinery, fuel and materials free of charge. At the same time, in order to safeguard the interests of the state, all information during the construction of the highway was kept strictly confidential, and the name of the highway was changed to "Karakoram Highway".
In the spring of 1966, the construction of the China-Pakistan Highway was officially launched, and China sent 3,500 road construction personnel to work on the 420-kilometer section of the country's territory.
After painstaking efforts, China and Pakistan finally completed the 1,032-kilometer highway in 1978, connecting the northern regions of the two countries from Kashgar in Xinjiang, China, to Takot, Pakistan.
Due to the backward level of industrial technology in Pakistan at that time, the speed and quality of the construction of the road sections in its territory were not as fast as those in China. Faced with this problem, China has generously provided assistance to Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of PLA soldiers from China's Xinjiang Construction Corps assisted Pakistan in the construction of the road, disguised as Pakistani soldiers to maintain regional stability and ensure the secrecy of aid operations.
04
Finally built
In the sixties of the last century, with the end of the Indo-Pakistani war, China and Pakistan established friendly diplomatic relations and planned to jointly build the China-Pakistan Highway, which is a grand project aimed at promoting economic cooperation between the two countries.
The 1,224-kilometre-long China-Pakistan Highway, which starts in Xinjiang, China, and ends in Soest, Pakistan, aims to open up the transportation arteries between the two countries and enhance bilateral trade.
Soon after the start of the project, the Chinese side quickly completed the construction task of 415 kilometers from its territory, but the progress of the road section in Pakistan was slow due to poor natural conditions, backward technology and equipment, etc., and in the face of this dilemma, the Pakistani government once again turned to the Chinese government for help, hoping to get China's support and assistance.
After receiving the request of the Pakistani government, the Chinese government decided to send a road construction team of more than 10,000 PLA troops to Pakistan to participate in the construction of the road.
During their missions, the PLA fighters took off their uniforms and changed into the uniforms of the Pakistani army in order to better integrate into the local environment and avoid international misunderstandings or conflicts.
Under extremely difficult natural conditions, they overcame various difficulties such as altitude sickness, severe cold and heat, earthquakes and avalanches, and used hammers and steel drills to open up mountain roads and clear rubble.
During the construction process, which lasted for more than ten years, these heroic road construction team members made great sacrifices, not only faced the harsh natural environment, but also had to endure a long period of material scarcity, lack of fresh vegetables and fruits, and extremely difficult living conditions.
After 14 years of unremitting efforts, the China-Pakistan Highway was finally completed and opened to traffic in 1979, becoming a link between China and Pakistan and greatly promoting the economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
In the process of building this road, about 700 people in China and Pakistan gave their lives for it, which means that behind every kilometer of road, there is a sacrifice of life.
As a result, the Karakoram Highway is known as one of the tallest and most beautiful highways in the world, and the mausoleum keeper Ahmad has volunteered to protect the Gilgit (Chinese martyrs who died during the construction of the Karakoram Highway) cemetery for 37 consecutive years, which has been praised by President Xi Jinping.
In the process, a total of 168 PLA soldiers are buried here, who have forged this road of friendship with their lives and sweat, laying a solid foundation for the development of China-Pakistan friendship.
Today, the China-Pakistan Highway has become an important part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, witnessing the deep friendship and mutual support between China and Pakistan.
Whenever this period of history is mentioned, the Pakistani people will express their heartfelt respect and gratitude to the Chinese road construction crews, and the friendship between China and Pakistan will continue to be passed on for the benefit of the people of the two countries. #文章首发挑战赛#
Resources
[1] CCTV "National Memory" 20161228 "Secret Construction of China-Pakistan Highway" Series Episode 1 Secret Mission _CCTV Program Official Website-CCTV-4_CCTV(cctv.com)
[2] CCTV "National Memory" 20161229 "Secret Construction of China-Pakistan Highway" Series Episode 2 Watch the Sky Road _CCTV Program Official Website-CCTV-4_CCTV.com(cctv.com)
[3] Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission How difficult is the China-Pakistan Highway to repair?Known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World"!_"Belt and Road" Information_Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission
[4] CCP History Network Mao Zedong said that the Sino-Indian War in 1962 was a "political and military battle"_Red Wall Chronicle_CCP History Network The official website of the CCP History Network
[5] Guangming.com From the Wenchuan earthquake to the new crown epidemic, China-Pakistan friendship has been sublimated