How did India's initial relationship with China differ from its relationship with Pakistan after gaining independence?

India had a friendly relationship with China and a tense one with Pakistan.

In contrast to its association with Pakistan, independent India initiated its relationship with China on amicable terms. Following the Chinese revolution in 1949, India emerged as one of the earliest nations to acknowledge the communist regime. Prime Minister Nehru held a deep sense of solidarity with this neighboring nation as it emerged from the vestiges of Western dominance. He extended support to the nascent government on the global stage. While a few of his colleagues, such as Vallabhbhai Patel, expressed apprehensions regarding potential future Chinese aggression, Nehru remained optimistic that the likelihood of a Chinese attack on India was very remote. For a significant duration, China's borders were safeguarded by paramilitary forces, rather than the conventional army.