Cannot pick between #US , #China: #Pakistan
MNP – Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs #HinaRabbaniKhar said that #Pakistan is not interested in picking sides between #China and the #US in the growing global rivalry between the two powers.
Talking to a European news outlet POLITICO, Khar insisted that #Islamabad was apprehensive about the fallout of an all-out rupture between the US and China. In such an instance, Pakistan would be presented with an #unfavourable strategic choice.
“We are highly threatened by this notion of splitting the world into two #blocs,” Khar said, adding that the country is very concerned about this decoupling or anything that splits the world further.
She further said: “We have a history of being in a close, collaborative mode with the US We have no intention of leaving that. Pakistan also has the reality of being in a close, collaborative mode with China, and until China suddenly came to everyone’s threat perception, that was always the case.”
Front-line states closely watch Pakistan in the contest for strategic influence in Asia.
Over the years, as Washington’s cooperation with India has increased, Pakistan has gotten closer to China — especially after the latter’s investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
However, Washington is still a significant military partner for Pakistan, while Beijing has recently pledged to deepen economic investment and military cooperation with the country.
