Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan paid his maiden state visit to China in the first week of November. During his visit, besides holding talks with the Chinese leadership, he also attended the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai as a guest of honor. Pakistan and China signed over a dozen bilateral agreements which have mutual benefits. Upon returning from China, the Pakistani prime minister stated that his visit was a significant landmark and none of his predecessors had achieved such success in furthering relations between the two countries.

Before the visit, some foreign media tried to generate an atmosphere of uncertainty. They suggested that the Pakistani prime minister had less than favorable views about Chinese President Xi Jinping, particularly with regard to the bilateral agreements pertaining to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Both Chinese and Pakistani government officials strongly rebutted the negative and baseless news with both Islamabad and Beijing designating the visit as successful. Islamabad went as far as to call China its most important strategic partner and long-standing friend. Beijing was equally complimentary about Pakistan as China's "iron brother" and reaffirmed China's commitment to helping Pakistan.

The outcome of Khan's visit to China came as a shock for those fundamentally against a closer relationship between China and Pakistan.

A separatist group carried out a terror attack on the Consulate General of China in Karachi to ignite tension between Pakistan and China. The plan was to create havoc at the Chinese diplomatic mission, to assassinate Chinese officials and make the Chinese feel unsafe in the country. It was also used to make the Pakistani security forces appear incompetent in defending the lives and properties of foreign missions.

But those orchestrating the attack had not considered the advancements in the Pakistani security mechanism over the last decade of the domestic war on terror. It has gained new dimensions of professionalism.

The planners of the Karachi attack could not have foreseen that the event would have engendered a new, stronger relationship between China and Pakistan. Since the attack, Chinese citizens have been raising funds for the families of the officers who died.

The planners and executors of this failed attack overlooked the fact that both Pakistan and China have developed a great commitment to each other across the decades. The two countries have been working together, including on important infrastructure projects such as the ninth wonder of the world, the Karakoram Highway. Emotional connections between the two countries also exist. Many will remember the 50-strong Chinese search and rescue delegation that saved the lives of hundreds of Pakistanis after the 2005 earthquake. In the end, the event did not drive a wedge between the two countries but instead served as a catalyst to bring them closer.

Words are not enough to pay tribute to the two personnel of the Sindh Police who died during the attack, trying to save those under fire. Words are also not enough to praise the bravery and dedication of the private security guard at the Chinese consulate who did not let the attackers cross the safety barrier and was critically injured by the attackers. When words are not enough, we can only hope that the deepened respect between the two nations will heal the wounds.

The author is president of Pakistan's Daily Mail and chairman of the Pakistan-China Media Friendship Association

Copyedited by Craig Crowther

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