PRIME Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that Pakistan was focusing on its own interests without choosing sides in the great power competition and that the West was over-obsessed with efforts to contain China. In an interview with the Washington Post during his recent visit to New York, he said Pakistan intended to stay neutral on Russia’s war with Ukraine and saw China as its ‘all weather friend’ and strategic partner.
Pakistan has had bitter experience of forging alliances with one particular camp during the height of great power rivalry as it incurred huge losses both in terms of national security and economy and got no worthwhile benefits in short, medium or long terms. Therefore, it has taken a conscientious decision to stay neutral on issues causing tension among major powers. Apart from manifestation of this policy towards contentious issues in other parts of the globe, it was quite evident from the posture adopted by the country on the Ukraine war, as Pakistan not only maintained its traditional relations with both the warring sides but in fact took several measures to boost them further. It is also a fact that the West, led by the United States, has been persistent with its policy to contain China through military and economic means. Understandably, Pakistan cannot and should not contribute to such a negative approach when China has no enmity with any nation of the globe and instead its doors are open for economic cooperation with all. China demonstrated its cooperative partnership approach by launching ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) and its flagship segment – China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – is a living proof of the sincerity of Beijing in offering to the world community the fruits of shared prosperity. Regrettably, instead of joining the Chinese initiative, the West, together with India, has come out with its own version of the corridor with the sole objective of trying to isolate China.
