ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday informed the Senate that China’s stance regarding Pakistan has not changed and that the situation on the foreign policy front was not as grim as it was being portrayed by certain elements.
Giving a policy statement on an adjournment motion in the Senate regarding the apparent change in China’s policy towards Pakistan in light of the 9th BRICS summit declaration in September, Khawaja Asif said that all allies of Pakistan, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, were standing by the country just as before.
“In fact, Pakistan’s diplomatic position has improved after US President Donald Trump’s speech,” he claimed, adding that there has been no change in China’s policy. “It is standing by Pakistan with increased alacrity,” Asif maintained.
The foreign minister claimed that the Heart of Asia conference declaration, which Pakistan signed in August, had a much stronger stance against terrorist organisations than the BRICS declaration.
The terrorist organisations named in the BRICS declaration had already been named in the Heart of Asia conference, he said, adding that the declaration was misquoted following Trump’s policy statement on South Asia.
He clarified that Pakistan’s policy regarding banned organisation was in accordance with the policy of United Nations. A ban was imposed on proscribed organisations to bar them from collecting hides on Eidul Azha, it was also done in abidance with the UN policy, the minister said.
