Rapprochement with the United States } 309
China also emerged as Pakistan’s major arms supplier, supplying gratis
200 main battle tanks, 120 MiG-19 jet fighters, and arms and equipment
for two infantry divisions. China also helped Pakistan build up its do-
mestic military-industrial complex.^42 During the Cultural Revolution, China
also pushed a road through the rugged Karakorum Mountains over which
Chinese supplies (and perhaps forces) could reach Pakistan in the event of
another war with India. Work on that road by PLA engineering troops started
in 1966. Construction was difficult and dangerous, but the road was passable
by truck by 1969, linking Kashgar in westernmost China to Gigot in Pakistani
Kashmir. Steady improvement on the road continued over the next five
decades.^43 Figure 11-1 illustrates the alignment of the Karakoram Highway
INDIASRI
LANKAWEST
PAKISTANIRAN
AFGHANISTANNEPALBHUTANEAST PAKISTAN/
BANGLADESHMONGOLIATIBETU.S.S.R.C HINATHAILANDINDONESIAMALAYSIABURMA LAOSBay of BengalArabian
SeaKashgarRawalpindiGilgitU.S. Navy
Task ForceSikkim and
Chumbi PassLocation of PRC protest
of 16 DecemberKarakoram Highway
(opened 1969)“e Chicken Neck”F IGU R E 11-1 China, the United States, and the India-Pakistan War of 1971