US differs with Pak-China approach on Afghanistan: PM Imran
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Pakistan and China have unanimity of views of the issue of Afghanistan but the United States has different opinion.
The prime minister, during an interaction with a number of former ambassadors and representatives of think-tanks in Islamabad on Sunday, maintained that the US was stuck in its domestic compulsions and that’s why it has a different view of the Afghan issue. Imran Khan, however, said the international community had a consensus over the issue of Afghanistan. “Europe and all the neighbouring states of Afghanistan agreed to avoid humanitarian crisis there and stressed upon defreezing of Afghan’s assets, the PM said, adding the US also understood and realized the situation. He further said all had a consensus that steps should be taken so that Afghanistan should not be descended into chaos.
To a question, Imran Khan said his recent visit to China and bilateral meetings with the Chinese leadership had added further impetus to the time-tested ties and would accelerate the pace of work on the ongoing projects of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The prime minister said that his recent visit to China was very relevant with regard to the fast-changing global political map. The Chinese leadership had appreciated his government’s steps to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, and the economic indicators which were positive, he said, adding they reaffirmed economic support to Pakistan through specific projects.
Imran Khan further opined that his visit further added strength to the ties between the two countries. He said he held a meeting with President Xi Jinping after a period of two years since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. These bilateral meetings added further strength to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, he said while completely trashing an impression over the slow-paced work on these projects.
To a question, Imran Khan said that after 18th Amendment issues had surfaced with regard to decision making and cited the difference in prices of wheat in Sindh and other provinces.
Referring to the functioning of the Chinese government, the prime minister said when a decision was taken, it was implemented, but in Pakistan, they lacked such synergy among the federal and provincial governments.
In China, he said, the whole country worked for the wealth creation, he said, adding all the hurdles in Special Economic Zones (SMEs) would be removed. TF REPORT
