ISLAMABAD: China and the United Arab Emirates are exploring opportunities for cooperation under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China’s ambassador to Islamabad said on Friday.
The Belt and Road initiative is a Beijing-led program to boost economic and trade ties in dozens of countries in Asia, Europe and beyond, mostly through investments in energy and infrastructure.
In Pakistan, Beijing has pledged about $60 billion for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor of power stations, major highways, new and upgraded railways and higher capacity ports, aimed to help turn Pakistan into a major overland route linking western China to the world.
The first phase of the corridor focused on the development of infrastructure and electricity projects and the second phase will be oriented towards industrialization and socio-economic development in nine special economic zones across the country.
“UAE is also a partner under the Belt and Road Initiative and has a lot of trade and economic links with Pakistan,” Ambassador Yao Jing told Arab News in an interview. “Between China and UAE, maybe we have some opportunities to cooperate for Pakistan’s development.”
Yao said since the ninth meeting of a Pakistan China Joint Cooperation Committee held this month, both countries had stepped up efforts to promote “third party investment” in the bilateral project.
After the visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia last September, Islamabad had invited Saudi Arabia to become a “strategic partner” in CPEC.
Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf senator Syed Shibli Faraz welcomed investment in Pakistan from the UAE and Arab countries and told Arab News the government was discussing opportunities for Arab countries to join CPEC. They had shown “willingness,” he said.
Senator and Chairman of China-Pakistan Institute, Mushahid Hussain Syed, said the participation of friendly countries like UAE would be a “great plus” for CPEC.
In an earlier interview, UAE Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad, Abdul Aziz Al Neyadi, told Arab News that UAE and China had common interests and were “ready to jointly work in a third country, as the government of UAE and China enjoy strong relations with Pakistan.”
UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, has also said: “Pakistan and UAE need to work together to further upgrade their ties aiming at developing a strategic partnership.”
UAE exploring opportunities for cooperation under CPEC — Chinese envoy
UAE exploring opportunities for cooperation under CPEC — Chinese envoy
- Yao says Pakistan and China have stepped up efforts to promote “third party investment” in the bilateral project
- Last September, Islamabad invited Saudi Arabia to become a “strategic partner” in CPEC
Pakistan urges UN Security Council to sanction separatist BLA group after recent attacks
- Separatist BLA launched attacks in multiple Balochistan cities last week, killing over 50 as per official figures
- Pakistan envoy says since Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, BLA, other militant groups have a “new lease of life“
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmed this week urged the Security Council to impose sanctions against the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant group and designate it as a “terrorist” group, after its recent coordinated attacks in southwestern Balochistan province.
Pakistan’s military said on Thursday it has concluded security operations in Balochistan against separatists that was launched since Jan. 29, killing 216 militants. The military launched counteroffensive operations in Balochistan after the BLA said it launched coordinated attacks in several parts of the province last Friday and Saturday.
The attacks killed 36 civilians and 22 law enforcement and security forces personnel, Pakistan’s military said. Pakistan’s government has accused India of being involved in the attacks, charges that New Delhi has dismissed.
“We hope the Council will act swiftly to designate BLA under the 1267 sanctions regime acceding to the listing request that is currently under consideration,” Iftikhar said on Wednesday during a UNSC briefing on the topic ‘Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts.’
The 1267 sanctions regime is a UNSC program that seeks to impose sanctions on individuals and entities associated with “terrorism.”
The regime seeks to impose travel bans, freeze assets and impose an arms embargo on individuals and groups primarily associated with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
Ahmad said that after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, “externally sponsored and foreign-funded proxy terrorist groups” such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the BLA have got a “new lease of life.”
“Operating with virtual impunity from Afghan soil and with the active support of our eastern neighbor, these groups are responsible for heinous terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy said it has become imperative to prevent billions of dollars of sophisticated weapons and equipment, which were left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan, “from falling into the hands of terrorists.”
“There must be accountability of external destabilizing actors who support, finance and arm these groups, including their proxies in Afghanistan,” Ahmad said in a veiled reference to India.
Pakistan’s largest and poorest province, mineral-rich Balochistan borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to China’s investment in the Gwadar deep-water port and other projects.
Balochistan has been the site of a decades-long insurgency led by ethnic Baloch separatists seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of its natural resources.
They accuse the state of denying locals a fair share of the province’s mineral wealth, charges that are denied by the Pakistani government.
