Nixon to Trump: Pakistan's Long Record as Backchannel Between Rival World Leaders Revealed
US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger secretly met with Chinese leaders in 1971 via a Pakistani plane, marking the beginning of a long-standing backchannel between Washington and Beijing, a relationship also recently adopted by President Trump during his visit to Pakistan in 2018.
Pakistan's long history as a backchannel between rival powers was cemented in 1971 when a Pakistani government plane carrying US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger flew overnight from Islamabad to Beijing, marking a significant moment in diplomatic relations between the US and China during the Cold War era. Since then, Pakistan has played a crucial role in facilitating communication between Washington and Beijing, with various US presidents relying on Pakistani channels to engage with Chinese leaders. From Nixon to Trump, Pakistani diplomats have been instrumental in brokering key meetings and negotiations between rival powers. This backchannel has allowed for more discreet and informal dialogue than traditional diplomatic routes.
