China has been waiting in the wings in order to do a deal with Kabul
The country wants to extend its ‘Belt and Road’ program to Afghanistan
Program would see a direct land corridor between Afghanistan and China through northwest Pakistan constructed
Deal could give China strategic foothold in the region for trade with the country acting as a central hub connecting the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe
But there remains the air of unpredictability with lasting peace uncertain with Taliban likely to make a resurgence in the region
While American troops were leaving their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday, China was already preparing to enter the war-torn country to fill the vacuum left by U.S. and NATO troops.
1 2021-07-06 08:06:38Xinhua
Editor : Li Yan
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Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday that his country can benefit from Chinese expertise for development and economic stability as China has achieved rapid development and is getting stronger with each passing day.
Taking benefit of the country s strategic location and deep-rooted friendship with China, Pakistan can materialize the dream of economic prosperity and development, the prime minister said while addressing a groundbreaking ceremony of several projects at the country s southwest Gwadar port, including the start of the construction of the Gwadar north free zone, a chemical fertilizer factory, an expo building, an animal vaccination factory and a lubricant factory.
Daily Times Imran Khan says Nawaz Sharif had 24 visits to UK but never bothered to come to Balochistan Peace in Afghanistan extremely important for continuity of development in region
Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said he is considering talking to insurgents in Balochistan.
“If development work had been carried out in the province, we would never have had to worry about insurgents,” the prime minister said while addressing a gathering of local elders, students and business leaders in Gwadar during a one-day visit to the city. “It may be that they had grievances in the old times and may have been used by other countries … India may have used them to spread chaos but the situation [now] is not the same,” he added.
PM Khan considering talking to Baloch insurgents
July 6, 2021
GWADAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday said he was considering speaking to the insurgents in Balochistan, as the situation in the province had changed and Pakistan was moving towards a better future.
The premier, addressing an event in Gwadar, said the insurgents might be upset with the state due to some past grievances or India might have used them to spread terror in Pakistan. “But now, the situation has changed,” he said.
Imran inaugurated Gwadar Free Zone, Expo Center, Agriculture Industrial Park, and three factories. He also witnessed the signing of various MoUs aimed at constructing a state-of-the-art hospital, airport, and vocational institute.
Daily Times
July 6, 2021
On June 23, the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on the Belt and Road Cooperation was successfully held. It was attended by political leaders from 29 countries, and representatives from six international organisations, including the UN. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered written remarks. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the meeting. H.E. Foreign Minister Qureshi addressed the function.
The conference, where attending parties vowed to enhance efforts to jointly fight the pandemic and boost the green economy for a sustainable recovery, is regarded as a signal. It is to show that Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the 2013-born framework, has endured the test of COVID-19 and continues to be vigorous in buttressing regional economies, hit hard by the pandemic. As an influential and popular initiative, the BRI has withstood the test of times, with distinguished characteristics.