June 22, 2023
2 mins read

Pakistan wants to stay neutral in US-China rivalry

Pakistan maintains a critical and challenging position in the scenario as it has close ties with China while it also maintains a relationship with the US as well…reports Hamza Ameer

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar said her country does not want to be pushed towards taking sides in the ongoing rivalry between US and China, stating that Islamabad has enough problems of its own.

In an interview, she said that Pakistan no longer has the appetite to pick a side between the world’s two largest superpowers, highlighting that Islamabad values its relations and wants to maintain a neutral balance with both the nations.

Khar’s interview was recorded before US President Joe Biden called his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a dictator during a political event in California.

Beijing responded aggressively to the remark, saying it was a “serious contradiction of basic facts, seriously violate diplomatic etiquette, and seriously infringe on China’s political dignity”.

Pakistan maintains a critical and challenging position in the scenario as it has close ties with China while it also maintains a relationship with the US as well.

Analysts have expressed their concerns and warned that Biden’s remarks, and Beijing’s response, would make it even more difficult for Pakistan to maintain close ties with both US and China.

Khar further emphasized that Islamabad cannot be part of US-China rivalry as “splitting the world into two blocs is “threatening” for Islamabad”.

“As a nuclear-armed heavyweight of 250 million people, Pakistan is one of the most closely watched front-line states in the contest for strategic influence in Asia.

“While Pakistan’s old Cold War partner Washington in increasingly turning its focus on cooperation with Islamabad’s arch-foe India, China has swooped in to extend its sway in Pakistan — particularly through giant infrastructure projects,” she added.

Khar said that Islamabad look at the US-China rivalry with serious concern.

“We are highly threatened by this notion of splitting the world into two blocs. We are very concerned about this decoupling.. anything that splits the world further. 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. “

With the US-China rivalry working on strategic influencing countries in Asia, Pakistan may find itself in a difficult position and may be pushed towards expressing its inclination to a bloc, which many say would be Beijing.

ALSO READ: Pakistan backtracks on objection to Holi celebration at university

Previous Story

Sheikh Hamdan launches Dubai’s Digital Strategy

Next Story

India’s Chowk & Charpai at London Design Biennale

Latest from -Top News

BRICS must break the digital chains

BRICS nations need to build consensus, balance innovation and social justice by reinforcing the digital sovereignty of Global South, including evenly distribution of benefits through AI, writes Baidya Bikash Basu BRICS, the

Modi begins landmark Argentina visit

First Indian PM to visit in 57 years; economic ties, lithium and trade top agenda Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a historic visit to Argentina on Saturday by paying homage to

Texas flash floods kill at least 24; Trump vows help

President calls tragedy ‘shocking’ as search for missing continues overnight At least 24 people have died in Kerr County, Texas, after catastrophic flooding swept through the region, prompting a large-scale rescue and
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Austin says India needs to cut dependence on Russia 

The United States has the finest weapons systems in the

China’s Caribbean Reach Alarms Washington

10 nations of the region have participated in the “Belt