Pakistan desires to mitigate conflicts among world powers: Bilawal
Says Pakistan to strengthen its economic cooperation with China through CPEC
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Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated Pakistan’ss desire to play role of a bridge among world powers, not a divider, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing the 49th Foundation Day ceremony of the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad on Thursday, Bilawal said Pakistan has an important geographic location and it has the potential to mitigate the conflict between world powers as it did in past between the United States and China.
“We have to make decisions for country’s economic uplift. We have to think where we are standing now and where would we be in 20 years,” he said.
Bilawal said Pakistan would have to strengthen its economic and trade cooperation with China. “CPEC to open new opportunities of trade in the region,” he said.
The foreign minister said because of its geostrategic location Pakistan’s foreign policy is far more affected due to global geopolitics and Pakistan should turn these challenges into opportunities. He said the government is committed to pursue a humble foreign policy without compromising on the national interests.
Bilawal said economic engagement gives the countries important leverage to impact policies of each other which can also lead to the better mutual understanding of conflicting issues. He said the government is working under incredibly difficult circumstances with the sole objective to benefit the people of Pakistan.
He also condemned the change in the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir terming it an assault on the right of people of Kashmir and rising trends of Islamophobia in India under BJP-led Modi government.
Bilawal maintained Indian "incredible assault" on Pakistan’s position on Kashmir, attempts to change the demography of the disputed territory and recent Islamophobic remarks of the BJP officials made it "very difficult, if not impossible" for Pakistan to re-engage with India.
"We don't have a trading relationship with India and many will argue absolutely we should not. The environment is not as such, given these outrageous assaults on our principles it would be inappropriate for Pakistan to take such a step," he said.
The minister said Pakistan was at its crossroads and the current government inherited a country "wherever you look there is a crisis."
Bilawal said because of the PTI government's flawed policies Pakistan today "is internationally isolated and internationally disengaged."