In order to plug the gaps between China and Pakistan, the government and the armed forces should ensure that no part of Pakistani territory is used by any negative forces against any neighbouring country, speakers at a seminar titled “Regional development and Sino-Pak relations” said on Friday.
The even was held at Sir Syed Memorial Society, where several dignitaries, including Pak-China Institute Chairman Mushahid Hussain Sayed, former state foreign minister Inamul Haq and former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar participated.
Addressing the seminar, Mushahid said the western and Indian media was publishing negative stories finger-pointing at Pakistan for acts of terrorism in Kashghar, adding that the government would have to send a high-level security delegation to China to discuss bilateral cooperation against terrorism and extremism and address misunderstandings, if any, between the friendly states.
He said Sino-Pakistan ties were solid and strong and no negative propaganda could undermine the robust relationship.
Mushahid said Pakistan had condemned terrorism and separatism in China, as stability in China was vital for stability in Pakistan in the wake of three contexts.
“Pakistan and China are forging closer cooperation that has raised concerns in regional countries and powers. China has announced Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kasghar that will be a hub of energy, economic, trade and commerce cooperation between China and Pakistan and China and central Asia. Kashghar is now the key to the future economic and regional cooperation and there is a new great game developing in our region with some elements in the West trying to contain China’s peaceful rise. Thus the negative propaganda about some elements of Pakistan in the Kasghar incident is a conspiracy to hurt the excellent Sino-Pak relations and cooperation,” he asserted.
The former minister said after the US left Afghanistan, China and Pakistan would emerge as major players in the region and bilateral cooperation was, therefore, vital. He said Pakistani forces had been active in tracking down Chinese separatists and ETIM leader Hassan Masoom was killed by the Pakistan Army in year 2003 while his successor, Abdul Haq Al-Turkistani, was killed in a drone attack on information provided by Pakistan on May 7, 2010.
He said like other countries, there might be some ungoverned spaces inside Pakistan, just like the Pak-Afghan bordering area, where the separatists might be present, but Pakistan had to ensure that no part of its territory was used for insurgency in China or any other neighbouring country.
Former state minister for foreign affairs Inamul Haq said all religio-political parties in Pakistan were one regarding the Pakistan-China relations and none of the leaders had ever uttered a single word or had promoted anything negative that could hurt the friendship.
He said the Chinese investments and projects in Pakistan were worth $25 billion, which were multiplying with the each day passing.
Mushahid said apart from the media’s claims, he doubted that the US forces would leave Afghanistan completely; just like they had not departed from Iraq despite the expiry of the 2011 deadline.
“I believe that the US would not leave Afghanistan that is a centre from where they can watch China, Pakistan, Iran and other important regional players. Afghanistan is home to billions of gold and copper reserves, while the same is the case with Pakistan, which has untapped reserves of gold, copper, oil and gas worth billions of dollars,” he added.
Former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar said the situation in and around Pakistan was dangerous and complex and the country painted a gloomy picture of instability.
He said Pakistani leadership should immediately act to stop the country slipping further into chaos, adding that it was unfortunate that the government was failing in handling the country’s affairs, while the opposition, like any opportunist, was trying to get political space through the Karachi violence.
The speakers were of the view that Sino-Pak friendship was rock solid and was the reason that attempts were being made to undermine this exceptional relationship.
