The Chinese have concerns over the security of their national working in Pakistan. They are also upset with Pakistan's failure to eliminate the rebels of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which was present in North Waziristan, until the operation was launched in mid-June in the restive district to reclaim it from al-Qaeda-linked militants. There are reports that ETIM militants might have survived the blitz and fled to neighboring Afghanistan or Central Asia. They are a security threat to China and have been involved in militancy in its Muslim dominant Xinjiang region.

Despite failures on the part of Pakistan, China is ready to invest in Pakistan when even the local businessmen are relocating their enterprises out of the country. The flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, linking China through its Xinjiang Autonomous Region in the west to the Gawadar deep sea port on the Arabian Sea, brings it close to the oil rich Middle East. The operational control of the port is already with the Chinese, who earlier heavily invested to build it. The complete contours of the corridor is not completely clear, but it is a massive project to build roads and rail links to carry goods from China to the port and to ship them onward. Pakistan is poised to reap rich dividends from the project, which brings investment and jobs. Sharif in one of interviews said that at least 100,000 jobs would be created in Pakistan.

While offering support, the Chinese have once again made it clear that Pakistan must control militancy and extremism. In fact, Chinese top leaders raised the issue with Sharif at the meeting. Now the ball is Islamabad's court. The money is available to build a strong economic foundation but investors want a hassle free, safe environment for business. It is time Sharif invited all the political parties, pressure groups, businessmen and security chiefs to create a grand consensus for a fast-track economic uplift.

The writer is a Pakistan-based analyst.

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