PESHAWAR, (APP): CPEC to bring new heights to Pak-China strategic relations
Senior defence analyst and former Secretary Security FATA, Brigadier (R) Mehmood Shah Friday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would further cement the ever growing and time tested relationship between the two friendly countries besides promoting peace and prosperity in the region.
Commenting on 65th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, Brigadier (R) Mehmood Shah told APP that Pakistan and China enjoyed long cordial and friendly diplomatic relationship established on May 21, 1951 that was higher than Himalaya, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey and it would touch new heights of glory in days to come.
He described the CPEC as game changer project for Pakistan and expressed the hope that it would take diplomatic relationship between two countries to the new heights of friendship besides bringing people of Pakistan and China further closer to each other.
"CPEC is in the interest of both Beijing and Islamabad as it would further deepen the cooperation in diversified fields including economic, energy, defence, communication and culture thus directly benefiting the two nations."
"CPEC would change the security paradigm of the region and would make Pakistan's Western and Eastern borders safe from external threats," he noted as a defence analyst.
By linking Kashgar (China) with Gwadar port through an enhanced network of roads and railway lines, CPEC project has the potential to give new life into both the economies.
Brigadier (R) Mehmood Shah maintained that once CPEC was operational and to be opened for trade and commercial activities, the defence perspective of Pakistan would also be strengthened.
With the operationalization of Gwadar port, Pakistan would be emerged as a regional transshipment hub, he added.
Brigadier Shah said cooperation of China to Pakistan in defence and aviation sectors was praiseworthy.
Referring to JF-17 Thunder fighter aircrafts, he said the fighter aircraft had made aerial defence of Pakistan impregnable.
He said several states including Sri Lanka had showed interest in purchase of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft which he termed a good omen for Pakistan's aviation industry.
"I believe that production of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft at Aeronautical Complex Kamra is a monumental cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing," he said.
The China's cooperation in aviation industry will immensely help minimize Pakistan's dependency to purchase fighter aircrafts from other countries besides generating foreign exchange.
China has assisted Pakistan in setting up Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Heavy Industries Taxila, several production lines in the Pakistan Ordnance Factories.
The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra, Heavy Forge and Foundry, Heavy Mechanical Complex, Heavy Re-build Factory at Taxila are other golden examples of cooperation.
Brig (Rtd) Shah said celebration of 2016 year as Pak-China friendship year would give a strong message of strong bonds in diversified fields between them to other countries.
Brig. Shah said the said that Pakistan and China troops had time and again participated in various joint military exercises enabling both the countries to take benefits from each other's expertise.
"It means Pakistan does not only enjoy good diplomatic and political relations but at same time the military as well with China," Brigadier (R) Mehmmod Shah noted.
Brig. Shah replying to question said the active role of Pakistan's foreign missions at Washington and UN was required to pursue handing over of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan by the USA effectively, for using them on war against terror.