ISLAMABAD – The United States has been conveying a message to Pakistan tocut its ties with all-weather China through various means, Foreign MinisterShah Mehmood Qureshi revealed Friday.
Qureshi while speaking with a private news channel said the United Statesalong with western powers hinted Pakistan to cut ties with China despitebeing aware of the country’s interests.
The minister clarified that “This is not a zero-sum game and if we are afriend of East Asian country, it doesn’t mean we are not friends with theUS or with any western country.’ Adding that, ‘China never asked Pakistanto break ties with the US or any other country.”
Qureshi while responding to a query said: “No one says this directly thereare ways to communicate such things through double meaning phrases. A Chinacontainment policy is underway at the global level. China is a rising powerright now and possibly can overtake the US in the next few years. So thereare fears in the West.”
Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC, he said: “CPEC isour need, it is our economic corridor for energy and trade and it has toreach its logical end, whether anyone likes it or not.”
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The key project will move ahead at all costs and no pressure will overwhelmPakistan. There are hurdles being created and that is why we have madearrangements for the security to ensure the safety of the project. Thereare elements that can damage it. Indian and other forces are scared of itssuccess’, he further added.
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated that Pakistanwill not change relations with time-tested friend China under any pressureas China stood by us in every difficult time.
Speaking with Chinese media on the occasion of the centenary celebrationsof the Communist Party of China (CPC), the premier said Pakistan wants tofurther strengthen economic, trade, and political ties with the ironfriend. He also mentioned that the US-China conflict creates complicationsin the region.
