Pakistan has distanced itself diplomatically from Western democracies through its own shaky democracy,its domestic elements of Islamic extremism, and its clandestine support for terrorist movements operating in neighbouring countries, such as Afghanistan and India. Pakistan's alliance with China, and perceptions of ingrained government corruption have further set back its image abroad.

In respect of its relations with Australia, all this is a pity because Australia has many very successful immigrants from Pakistan, many of them professional.

Why do half-wits so often resort to either-or thinking ?

Why can't Australia foster relations with BOTH India AND Pakistan ? Work on the problems hindering that ?

Joe

India is more important to Australia than Pakistan. Pakistan is a constant threat to India, and a mate of China.

Nothing more to be said, really.

ttbn. Couldn't have put it better.
Alan B

Pakistan is and will always be suspect. No comparison to be drawn between the two.

Obviously with Chinese troops assembling on the Indian border, the rising tide of Indian development is a threat.
India is the direction for furure Australian ties, while reducing reliance on China.

Dan.

In terms of foreign affairs, Pakistan has sided with China which does raise issues.

But in terms of Pakistan's contribution to Australia, we can celebrate this reality as another ethnic groups that has contributed to our society.

Two different things really.

Joe

The answer to your oversimple question is simple; Pakistan has sfa to offer as a comparison to India. (In spite of Adani and Gupta bros).

Dan

no one ever mentions that Pakistan is a made up State. Oops no hatred left after pouring it all out on Israel.

Where that leaves Pakistan!? Is entirely up to Pakistan!

Joe, Because they are halfwits, mate.

Grammarly, thanks for changing what into would. Makes far more sense now, doesn't it?

Can an AI be halfwitted?
Alan B.

Chris,

Did you see the news report today that fighting broke out between Indian and Chinese forces on the Indian-China border in Galwan Valley in Kashmir? See video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AH0UeLJ0PY

Yes, I also heard China is angry about India siding with US, Japan and Australia in security terms.

It must be hurt to be hated. Poor commie bastards.

Dan,

Why do half-wits so often resort to either-or thinking ?

International relations are usually complex, with all sorts of contradictory links. e.g., Pakistan with its close links to both China and the US; India with its close links to Iran and israel; Iran with its close links to China; etc.

Why Pakistan ? Two hundred million people as a market for Australian produce ? As well as India, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. ? Why can't we get along with all of them, and provide an alternative trading partner instead of China dominating the entire region ?

We're always going to be where we are now in relation to South-east and South Asia. We can't hack our continent off from its tectonic plate and tow it closer to Antarctica or New Zealand or South America. We're here forever, they're there forever. Wouldn't it be better for our descendants if in, say, a hundred years, our countries were co-ordinating trade and co-operating politically better than they are now ?

Surely we should be (and probably are) exploring any and all potential trade links with all of the counties of our region, including pakistan ?

Joe

Chris,

I said a little while ago that I thought China would become aggressive in the wake of the WuFlu pandemic and would start annexing territory and might even invade Taiwan. Are we seeing the start of bad things to come?

Mr O,

I hope not.

But if that is the way China goes, just wait and see what reaction will emerge.

I predict China will be the big loser, even without military conflict which i doubt will ever be a major risk thanks to nuclear weapons.

Thuggery will never prevail, and even those reliant more on China will see the future.

Could be wrong though.

Chris,

To me it looks like China is deliberately trying to antagonise everybody. I wonder if it is trying to set up conditions or create an excuse to invade Taiwan?

Big mistake bringing in those millions of Chinese into Australia. How many active agents especially PLA officers are residing here in readiness to answer the call of their new emperor Xi?

We call always join hands with the pro-China camp viz LOUDmouth, mhaze, etc., and sing Kumbaya. Andrew Forrest might even stand in as choir master.

You're right BREN and wrong JOE (you're a bit wishy-washy on this!)

Pakistan has done a great job with China and North Korea in NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction#Alleged_foreign_co-operation

and

Pakistanis and their kids also deserve special mention for TERRORISM IN LONDON http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_July_2005_London_bombings#Attackers

With 3 second generation Pakistanis killing 52 people in London and injuring 700 in July 2005.

and also there's

PAKISTAN's STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM:

Pakistan has been accused by neighbouring countries India, Afghanistan and Iran and other nations, including the US the UK and France of involvement in terrorist activities in the region and beyond. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_and_state-sponsored_terrorism

Chris,

Sometimes half-wits like Misop are quite amusing, aren't they ? But sometimes they fall off the village wall. I've been on about China's aggression against Taiwan, south-east Asian countries, etc. for years.

I suspect that China doesn't have that much time left to carry out its plans for domination: its economy is probably far more precarious than that of others, and the virus may push it over the edge into long-term recession.

And its demography has reached a sort of crunch point, where the annual number of births starts to drop slowly. Yes, the population will slowly keep rising due to the longer lives of its old people, but in another decade or two, China will start to actually lose population. Put those two factors together, economy and demography, and it could reach the point of becoming old before it becomes rich.

Maybe not: the technology of work is changing so rapidly towards an economy far less dependent on workers. And China's military technology will also develop towards far less need for actual soldiers, as we enter an era of drones fighting drones.

But after Xi, will China have its Brezhnev-Andropov-Gorbachev moment, when its political system reaches a limit and then collapses into moral bankruptcy ?

Clearly, Australia's future depends on fostering strong and positive relations with as many other countries in the region as possible. It's not a time to make enemies of countries like Pakistan for no particular reason.

Joe

LOUDmouth,

Did you really just say " ............ Brezhnev-Andropov-Gorbachev moment, when its political system reaches a limit and then collapses ........"

Easy to see you don't have any credentials in the Arts things like history, sociology, archaeology, anthropology, philosophy, etc.

The Soviet economy didn't collapse because its political system reached a limit!

Go get trained up and come back and then we'll discuss it.

I agree with Joe: we need every possible friend in the region.
China is our enemy - Pakistan is not!

Australia should do its best to assist peace-negotiations between India and Pakistan. Their cooperation is very important for our security.

---

Dear Mr. Opinion,

«Big mistake bringing in those millions of Chinese into Australia. How many active agents especially PLA officers are residing here in readiness to answer the call of their new emperor Xi?»

We have done the right thing in providing refuge to oppressed Chinese people: surely we would expect the same had it been us who were at the receiving end of the stick, conquered by the cruel CCP. Yes, there is quite a bit of sorting to do, which could be hard but we must.

Surely there are agents lurking and surely anyone found to have even the slightest of connections with the CCP should be kicked out naked with all their assets here confiscated, then everyone with only grounds for suspicion must be detained (in humane conditions) as a precaution until the war ends, but the vast majority of Chinese people in Australia are excellent people which we should embrace. Sadly many of them still have relatives in China, thus are subject to blackmail and must not be given any responsible or sensitive jobs.

Yuyutsu,

You say "anyone found to have even the slightest of connections with the CCP should be kicked out naked with all their assets here confiscated ......."

Does that include Andrew Forrest, Gladys Liu, Sam Dastyari, etc?

Dear Mr. Opinion,

«Does that include Andrew Forrest, Gladys Liu, Sam Dastyari, etc?»

I would be surprised if China agrees to take them in: generally they are interested in humans for organ-harvesting and transfer, but rotting organs are of not much value, besides they never had any hearts.

Yuyutsu,

How many Chinese spies do you think are operating in Australia?

How many Chinese agents have been planted into positions that allow them access to and control of our essential utilities?

I think it's time to give them their marching orders and send them back to China.

Or should our politicians and bureaucrats just keep turning a blind eye to reality?

Dear Mr. Opinion,

«I think it's time to give them their marching orders and send them back to China.»

Certainly, but first we need to identify them, among numerous innocent Chinese refugees.

First stage, instruct all Chinese in Australia to either sign a statutory declaration that they have no ties with or sympathy for the CCP and never will, or else leave voluntarily.

Second stage, offer financial incentives, directed especially at local Chinese people, who successfully (yet confidentially) point out other Chinese people that made false declarations. The money would come from their confiscated assets.

Yuyutsu,

Are you crazy?

No. Just cancel their visas and give them 8 weeks to piss off back to China.

Misopinionted,

And your ancestry is from where ? In the event that Australia has differences with any of those countries, what do you think of the idea of cancelling your papers and telling you to piss off ?

A but racist ? So what's the difference ?

Joe

LOUDmouth,

Today China is hacking into government computers.

But being in the pro-China camp you probably think there's nothing wrong with that.

Dear Mr. Opinion,

Most of the Chinese people here are good,
most of them hate the communist regime
and most of them are also Australian citizens.

Our only enemy is the CCP, not the Chinese people!

Yuyutsu,

You are living in a dreamworld. Wake up!

Well, the problem is, Syed, that Pakistanis are Muslims, and Australians who have any brains are very leery of your lot. We much prefer Hindus to Muslims, because Hindus in Australia don't go around killing Australians or trying to commit acts of terrorism. Nor do Hindus create crime prone and welfare dependent suburbs in Australian urban areas, where the resident Australians have fled to get away from the Muslims. As a matter of fact, Hindus seem to be very law abiding. There have been no Hindu race hate rape gangs targeting Australian girls like there were Muslim race hate rape gangs doing just that in Australia. Some of the leaders of those gangs are still in jail and they can rot there forever for all I care.

So, if you wish to improve relations with Australia, the first thing to do is to get your top Imams, or Mullahs, or whatever they call themselves, to publically disclaim those passages in the Koran which instructs Muslims to kill, maim, disfigure, behead and terrorise non Muslims into becoming Muslims. And get rid of those passages in the Koran, Suras, and Hadiths, which instruct Muslims to invade kuffar countries and make them Islamic. Even those countries which "Allah knowest, and you knowest not." Or we will continue to consider all Muslims as an unacceptable threat and dangerous people not worthy of immigrating into our country.

Another thing Pakistan could do is stop attacking India and being a base for Muslim terrorists in Kashmir and Afghanistan. And please stop sucking up to China which Australians are beginning to realise are becoming the new Nazi Germany of the east, complete with concentration camps for Muslims.

Lastly, please don't throw any more blind girls who get raped in Pakistan into Jail again, either. That definitely does not endear Australians to Pakistanis.

BIN LADEN "A MARTYR" SAYS PAKISTAN

Yesterday (25 June) Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan "said that the US "martyred" bin Laden after its 2011 raid. Khan was critical of his predecessors' relationship with Washington and rued Islamabad's decision to partner the US in the war on terror."

More see http://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-imran-khan-says-us-martyred-osama-bin-laden/a-53944280