For a south Indian (I presume), your grasp of the meat of the matter is way exceeding some Yahuls. I concur with much of what you said.
For any Chinese who actually know a thing or two about the cultural evolution in the land of historical China, up until the European arrival (in force and splendor and "trouble"), China has always been more "Indic" than India has been "Sinic" ... although this affinity is more applicable to the classical cultures of north India (for obvious historical/religious/geographical reasons).
BTW, being "Indic" does not imply being "good" - this is a tangent we are not yet prepared to slide down, for now ... and part of this "Indic-ness" was "Iraning/Bactrian/Sogdian
pre-islamic brand of Indic-ness" ..
Here comes a
"candidly speaking"moment: until Mumbai 26/11, Pakistan wasn't on my personal radar. I saw it as a "new" country in the tradition of Singapore, Israel, or I suppose, Eritrea (no offense intended for that comment).
Culturally, no doubt I felt closer to Indians
by far here in NA. That is not to say I haven't warmed up to Punjabi Pakistanis (they are all Punjabis here in Canada anyways). Heck, even the Indians here are mostly Punjabis. For some reasons, I have never gotten to know any Tamils ...
I would say that the "help" I received from three "Pakistanis" a year my senior in university was among the biggest boost to myself academically. I got all their notes and "old exams" - anything I needed. That and my "hard work", among other such "resources", with no small amount of luck (or God's "grace") ensured my entrance into a professional school of the "first tier" ...
I put "quotes" around the word "Pakistani" because one of them was actually a Bengali. I still remember the shock on one of the other two's faces when I asked "Bengali/Punjabi - what is difference?"
And still, culturally it has been easier for me to relate to Indians - hands down. Even Arabs (I hung out with a group of Egyptians very, very regularly in university - I was in their late night "study" party where 10% of time was used to "study") did not wear "religion" on their sleeves as some Pakistani students did - I am not saying there was something wrong with the latter - just pointing out a fact. And all that was in the "pre-911" idyllic days.
Anyways, coming back to my point: I was forced to educate myself about China/Pakistan/India first after 9/11 and then in seriousness after 26/11.
My conclusion is simple: there is currently no chance of any genuine India/China rapprochement without a India/Pakistan "thaw" first. A three-way "thaw" is only going to happen in that order.
One exception that can occur is if and when Pakistan joins another, more formalized, substantial "alliance" - possibly involving Iran and Turkey.
I would actually be quite happy to see the above happen for a variety of reasons, not all of which many Chinese in the PRC would understand ...
Anyhow, carry on.