From pushing in small arms over a decade ago in Kashmir, the Sino-Pakistan defence partnership has morphed into a considerable military alliance in the last few years. Last week’s military exchanges between the two arch-rivals offered glimpses of this friendship between two `iron clad’ allies.

Beijing may not have had troops on the ground, but as South Asia's two nuclear powers bared their teeth over Kashmir, China eyed an opportunity

Increasing Western military support to India, and China’s to Pakistan, signals a shift in global alignments — and another potential flashpoint for international tensions.