ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday agreed to enhance cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and strengthen bilateral strategic partnership during their meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
Sharif arrived in Beijing on Tuesday on his maiden two-day official visit to the country since assuming office in April. Pakistan’s prime minister is in Beijing to meet the Chinese leadership and discuss the $65 billion economic corridor in Pakistan that connects China to the Arabian sea.
Sharif is one of the first foreign leaders to visit China since President Xi Jinping secured an unprecedented third term as general secretary at the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th party congress this month.
A delegation consisting of federal ministers, special assistants, and senior government officials is accompanying the prime minister on his visit to China.
CPEC, a flagship project of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, is a $65 billion network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports in Pakistan that will connect China to Pakistan’s ports and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy and meet major energy needs.
“In the meeting, mutual cooperation between China and Pakistan, especially in economic fields, was discussed,” the PMO said, adding both leaders met at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. “Both sides agreed to increase multilateral cooperation, including CPEC, between China and Pakistan and further strengthen strategic partnership,” the statement added.
As per the PMO, Sharif thanked Jinping for China’s assistance to Pakistan to recover from devastating floods that have killed over 1,700 in the country since mid-June.
The Chinese president assured Sharif that Beijing would continue to extend its support to Pakistan for sustainable economic development and to harness its potential as a geo-economic hub.
He also announced an additional assistance package of RMB 500 million for Pakistan’s post-flood relief and rehabilitation efforts, the PMO said.
PM Sharif invited President Jinping to visit Pakistan at an early date, to which the Chinese president agreed, the PMO said.
In a separate meeting with Chinese investors and representatives of Chinese companies, PM Sharif invited them to invest in drinking water supply and solar power projects in Pakistan.
Sharif’s government alleges that the CPEC project was slowed down during the tenure of ousted former premier Imran Khan, a charge the latter denies.
“I am aware that there have been many problems in the past for which we apologize but after assuming power on April 11, 2022, we have solved the majority of the problems,” Sharif said during the meeting.
“160 billion rupees owed to Chinese companies have been paid and a revolving fund has been created from 50 billion rupees by the State Bank,” he added.
Sharif said that the best possible security measures were being undertaken to protect safety of Chinese residents in Pakistan.
PM Sharif is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang, later in the day.
PM Sharif, President Xi agree to enhance cooperation on CPEC, strategic partnership
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PM Sharif, President Xi agree to enhance cooperation on CPEC, strategic partnership
- Sharif is on a two-day visit to China with a high-level delegation to discuss debt, CPEC project
- Xi Jinping announces RMB 500 million in flood aid for Pakistan, says Prime Minister’s Office
Pakistan army chief tells Kabul to choose Islamabad or Taliban militants amid strained ties
- Pakistan blames Afghanistan for facilitating cross-border attacks in its territory, allegations that Kabul denies
- Ties remain strained since October, when deadly border clashes left dozens dead on both sides of the border
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has told Afghanistan to choose between Islamabad and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, state media reported on Sunday as ties between both neighbors remain strained.
Pakistan’s army and civilian government have both blamed the Afghan Taliban recently for facilitating cross-border attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies. Afghanistan says it does not allow its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan and cannot be held responsible for Islamabad’s security challenges.
Both countries were involved in deadly border clashes in October that saw dozens of soldiers killed and wounded on both sides. Officials from Afghanistan and Pakistan have held peace talks in Qatar, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia over the past few months but failed to reach an agreement.
“Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has said Afghanistan will have to choose between Fitna Al-Khawarij and Pakistan,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Munir was addressing the National Ulema and Mashaikh Conference held in Islamabad earlier this month, the state media said.
“Fitna Al-Khawarij” is a term the Pakistan military frequently uses for the TTP.
Munir highlighted that 70 percent of the TTP’s formations that enter Pakistan from Afghanistan comprise Afghan nationals.
“He said innocent citizens, including children, are being targeted through terrorism with the backing of the Afghan Taliban,” Radio Pakistan reported.
While Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a temporary ceasefire, tensions persist between the two nations as militant attacks persist in Pakistan.
Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s deputy head of mission on Friday and demanded “decisive action” against TTP militants after four Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack on a military camp in northwest Pakistan.
The foreign office said the Afghan government had been informed that Pakistan “reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens” and would take all necessary measures to respond to attacks originating from Afghan territory.
Afghanistan has warned Pakistan in the past against attacking its territory, saying it reserves the right to respond to such provocations.
