ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday civil war in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of all US troops from the war-torn country later this year would disconnect Pakistan’s Gwadar port from land-locked Central Asian states.
The South Asian nation is promoting the strategic Gwadar port on the shore of the Arabian Sea as a trade and economic hub for the country, and an economic corridor for Central Asian states. The deep sea port is being developed as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion energy and infrastructure project under construction in Pakistan since 2013.
A vast majority of US troops have left Afghanistan, ahead of the timetable set by President Joe Biden, who had promised they would be home by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the attack that brought them to Afghanistan. The US forces leave as Afghanistan is on the verge of a civil war, a cause of concern for Pakistan, which shares a long, porous border with Afghanistan, hosts millions of Afghan refugees, and faces threats from Pakistani militants — the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group — that have found safe havens in Afghanistan.
“We are talking to [Afghan] Taliban and neighboring countries for a political settlement in Afghanistan,” the prime minister said during a daylong visit to Gwadar. “In case the political settlement is not reached, besides the refugees’ influx, our trading links with the Central Asian states will be disconnected.”
The prime minister inaugurated the North Gwadar Free Zone, Gwadar Expo Center and Henan Agricultural Industrial Park, among other projects, during the visit. He also inaugurated three factories and witnessed the signing of agreements for solarization and desalination plants to resolve Gwadar’s water and electricity shortage problems.
Ambassadors from friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar, also participated in events in Gwadar, along with federal ministers and top government functionaries. Some Chinese businessmen addressed the ceremony through video-link, promising to invest in the Gwadar industrial zone.
Khan said Pakistan had started a one window operation to facilitate Chinese and other foreign investors set up export-led industries in the Gwadar free zone.
“Gwadar is becoming a focal point for the whole Pakistan,” the prime minister said. “We are organizing ourselves to provide better service to Chinese investors like Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia did.”
Civil war in Afghanistan will disconnect Gwadar port from Central Asia — Pakistani PM
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Civil war in Afghanistan will disconnect Gwadar port from Central Asia — Pakistani PM
- Pakistan is promoting Gwadar port on Arabian Sea as a trade hub for the country and economic corridor for Central Asia
- On daylong visit to Gwadar, PM inaugurates several projects including North Gwadar Free Zone, Gwadar Expo Center, Henan Agricultural Park
Babar Azam dropped for scoring too slowly, says Pakistan coach Hesson
- Shaheen Shah Afridi was left out after conceding 101 runs in three matches
- Pakistan will now face New Zealand in the opening match of the second phase
COLOMBO: Batting great Babar Azam was dropped for Pakistan’s final T20 World Cup group game against Namibia for scoring too slowly, said head coach Mike Hesson on Friday.
Azam, who is the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,571 runs, was left out for the must-win game against Namibia as Pakistan racked up 199-3 and secured a place in the Super Eights by 102 runs.
The 2009 champions face New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday in the opening match of the second phase.
“I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that’s clearly not the role we think we need,” Hesson told reporters after Pakistan’s final practice session on Friday was washed out by rain.
Pakistan left out Azam for the same reason at last year’s Asia Cup and even after dismal showing in the Big Bash League, he was still selected for the T20 World Cup.
“We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup,” said Hesson.
“We’ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role toward the end.
“Babar is actually the first to acknowledge that.
“He knows that he’s got a certain set of skills that the team requires and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently.”
Hesson also defended dropping pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi after he conceded 101 runs in three matches, including 31 in two overs against India.
“We made a call that Salman Mirza was coming in for Shaheen, and he bowled incredibly well,” said Hesson.
“To be fair, he was probably really unlucky to not be playing the second and third games.”
Hesson was wary of Pakistan’s opponents on Saturday.
“New Zealand have played a huge amount in the subcontinent in recent times so we have to play at our best.”
