ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked India to shun fears of China-PakistanEconomic Corridor CPEC project.
Stressing the need for strengthening regional cooperation, Islamabad addedthat India holds the key to peace in South Asia.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, Pakistan Ministerfor Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said, “The CPEC wouldbring prosperity to the region, including China and Pakistan.
The minister’s comments came nearly two weeks after Iran invited Pakistanto become a part of the Chabahar project.
Critising India for alleged “short-sighted approach”, Iqbal said, “CPEC ispurely an economic development project that would bring prosperity. Indiashould get benefit from the project rather than pursuing unnecessarycriticism.”
“The CPEC would bring prosperity to the region, including China andPakistan,” he added.
“Transport corridors help connect the countries and play a pivotal role ineconomic integration, trade development and regional connectivity acrossthe globe,” he said.
India is opposed to CPEC as it passes through Azad Kashmir.
CPEC is a crucial part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt andRoad Initiative (BRI). Invitations from China and Pakistan to othercountries in the neighbourhood to join CPEC.
Earlier in March, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, during a three-dayvisit to Pakistan, made a move to placate Pakistan’s deep misgivings overIndia’s long-standing involvement in the Chabahar Port project.
The Chabahar Port has given India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.These were regions where it had become unviable for India to interact withsince most connectivity options ran through Pakistan, with whom India hasperpetually strained relations. In November 2017, India successfullydelivered an aid shipment of wheat to Afghanistan through the ChabaharPort.