Sharif roars back at Indian threats

• PM denounces externally-sponsored terrorism, rejects irresponsible statements from Indian political leadership
• Vows to develop Gwadar at par with Singapore, Dubai, stresses duty-free status for its port and establishment of a new administrative system

Addressing envoys conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it “loud and clear” that Pakistan will protect its vital interests at all costs, maintaining high moral grounds in the face of provocations.

“We will not abandon the quest for peaceful neighbourhood but there should be reciprocity and acknowledgement of the overtures Pakistan has made to promote the dialogue process,” he emphasised in the backdrop of recent provocative statements from India.

The prime minister said that externally-sponsored terrorism and violent extremism were threats to Pakistan and the entire nation was dismayed over recent irresponsible and imprudent statements from the Indian political leadership. “Such atmosphere takes us away from our goal of regional peace and stability.”

Sharif made it clear that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir could be relegated to the backburner of history. He pointed out that only on last Tuesday, during his meeting with the UN secretary general in Dushanbe, he urged him to play a proactive role in promoting peace in the region. He said he also reminded the UN chief that it was obligatory for the UN Security Council to ensure early implementation of its resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.

Turning to Afghanistan, the prime minister said the two countries have moved closer and have resolved to fight terrorism together. He said last month he told the Afghan president that the enemies of Afghanistan could not be Pakistan’s friends and that there were no good and bad terrorists; all had to be countered. The two countries are strengthening their ties in trade, education, military training and intelligence cooperation, he added.

The prime minister said the government was according highest priority to security and energy sectors for ensuring economic revival. He cited Operation Zarb-e-Azb’s success, however adding that it was “still a long haul” as the government was curbing on all kinds of ethnic, communal and sectarian violence.

“The National Action Plan (NAP), which enjoys consensus in the country, gives us the necessary framework to counter terrorism effectively and decisively. We will spare nobody as we choke financing for terrorism and sectarian violence and disable terrorists’ logistical support systems. In this regard, we are enlisting assistance of our friendly countries,” he said.

SHARIF SEES DUBAI IN GAWADAR:

Moreover, Sharif urged envoys to promote Pakistan as a destination for investment, trade, production and distribution.

“We have embarked on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a game changer for Pakistan and for the region. The project will build Gwadar Port as the regional trans-shipment pivot, supported by a network of roads, railway lines, power plants, industrial zones, pipelines and fibre optic cables,” he said, asking the envoys to “use their skills and ingenuity to create greater awareness” about the “historic initiative”, dispel misgivings that surround it and harness resources to augment government’s efforts.

In the meanwhile, addressing the National Assembly session on Thursday, PM Sharif vowed to develop Gawadar at par with Singapore and Dubai, announcing that its port would be declared duty-free.

The premier went on to say that he had not formally approached any party for a change in Gwadar’s status and did not intend on doing it. “Gwadar should be a gift for the entire region. I request all parties to sit with us and give Gwadar the status of a free port and make a new administrative system for it,” he said, adding that the government wanted to make Gwadar “best port, city and district”.

Regarding his recent visit to Tajikistan, PM Sharif said that the Tajik leaders had expressed their desire to increase connectivity between the two countries and pave a way to Central Asia through Gwadar.

“Over Rs 30 billion have already been allocated for western root under CPEC project,” the premier told lawmakers, adding that that motorways were being constructed in all four provinces of the country to provide better communication facilities to the people.

Responding to opposition’s criticism, Sharif boasted of constructing a coastal highway in Gwadar, promising indiscriminate development across country, including Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Responding to points raised by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s Nawab Ali Wassan in his budget speech, the premier said that development on Hyderabad-Karachi section of Lahore-Karachi Motorway had started while Hyderabad-Sukkur section will also be completed soon.

Development work on Hazara Motorway was progressing rapidly, the premier claimed, adding that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was working on these projects as a “national duty” and they would be completed during the next three years.

Hitting back at NA opposition leader Khursheed Shah for claiming that motorway projects should have been completed in 1990, the premier said, “Our government dissolved in 1993 and we decided to make the motorway till Karachi again in 1997, but we were unable to.”

Moreover, PM Sharif expressed confidence that electricity load-shedding will end in the next three years. He reiterated that coal-based energy projects in Thar and others including the ones at Port Qasim and Hub will substantially help curbing energy crisis. He affirmed Wassan’s statement that 18-hour outages were not being carried out in any part of the country.