The picturesque Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, often hailed as “Mini-Switzerland,” turned into a scene of horror this April. Twenty-six Indian tourists—including children and elderly pilgrims—fell victim to a brutal terrorist attack. In a rare show of courage, some local Muslim Kashmiris reportedly tried to shield the victims, only to be gunned down themselves. This tragedy is more than just another grim chapter in the history of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir; it is a wake-up call for the region—and most importantly, for China.

What sets this incident apart is not just its brutality, but the startling confession it provoked. In a candid interview with Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif admitted his country’s long-standing support for extremist groups. “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States... That was a mistake, and we suffered for that,” he said. Rarely has a senior Pakistani official publicly acknowledged what India has long alleged—that terrorism, for decades, has been abetted by elements within the Pakistani state.

This moment of rare honesty presents a critical test for regional diplomacy. Most significantly, it poses a strategic and moral challenge for China, whose "all-weather friendship" with Pakistan has long been immune to Islamabad’s international isolation on the issue of terrorism.

Historically, China has maintained a studied silence on terror attacks in India, even those with evident cross-border linkages. But Pakistan’s own defence minister's admission is a geopolitical rupture. For Beijing, which aspires to be seen as a responsible global actor, continued diplomatic neutrality in the face of such revelations may now appear not just outdated, but complicit.

India’s foreign policy establishment understands the complexities of China-Pakistan ties, especially under initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, the Pahalgam massacre and the political clarity (by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif) it triggered offered Beijing a rare diplomatic opening. Condemning terrorism in unambiguous terms and acknowledging India’s grief would not mean abandoning Pakistan; it would mean rising above binary geopolitics and showing true statesmanship.

A Question of Timing

Amid this backdrop, China's recent actions merit serious reflection. Reports suggest that Beijing expedited the delivery of PL-15 air-to-air missiles to Pakistan, a move widely perceived as bolstering Islamabad’s military posture against India’s Rafale fleet. While sovereign nations are free to engage in defence partnerships, the timing and optics of such decisions matter deeply. China's continued military support to Pakistan, without any call for accountability on terrorism, undermines its credibility and deepens mistrust in the region.

If China’s vision of building a “community with a shared future for mankind” is to carry weight in South Asia, it must be backed by moral clarity and timely action. A strong condemnation of the Pahalgam massacre would go a long way in reassuring not only New Delhi but also the Indian public, whose trust in China has significantly eroded since the Galwan Valley clash of 2020.

Security as a Prerequisite for Development

South Asia remains one of the world’s most volatile regions, with unresolved border disputes, recurring proxy conflicts, and a dangerous proliferation of non-state actors. Yet both India and China share a genuine interest in regional stability. For China, the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) depends on peace, not provocation. Supporting India’s fight against terror, or at the very least, not shielding its perpetrators, should be seen not as a concession but as a strategic necessity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, “Silence in the face of terror is complicity”, was not just rhetoric. It was a challenge to the global community, and especially to China, which retains unique leverage over Islamabad.

The Diplomatic Road Ahead

China’s potential to serve as a stabilising force in South Asia remains considerable. By aligning its actions with its stated commitment to peace and development, Beijing can build durable partnerships and help reduce regional hostilities. That would require not just economic investment, but moral leadership.

By unequivocally condemning acts of terrorism and encouraging meaningful reform within Pakistan’s security establishment, China could contribute to a more stable South Asia, one where shared economic aspirations are not continually undermined by violence and mistrust.

Moments of diplomatic clarity are rare. The Pahalgam tragedy, coupled with Pakistan’s public admission of its role in fostering terrorism, presents such a moment. China must rise to the occasion—not by choosing sides, but by choosing peace. It must move from silence to strategy, and from passive balancing to active peace-building.

(The author, a journalist-turned-interdisciplinary academic with over 18 years of experience in broadcast and digital media and research across Asia and Europe, is a Ph.D. scholar at Hong Kong Baptist University who is currently in China. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at arjunchatt@gmail.com/ WeChat: ARJUN13717687208/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjun-c-276a8065/).