ISAS Delegation from China Engages with ISSI in Discussion of Mutual Interests

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign secretary and Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, on Friday said Pakistan would continue to stress that the key drivers of international relations should be peaceful co-existence and cooperation.

He was talking on Friday with a four-member delegation from the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), Sichuan University, China. The delegation was led by Associate Professor Dr Zeng Xiangyu, and included Dr Gao Liang, Ms He Xiangyi, and Ms Li Jialun.

The ISSI DG reminded that friendship with China was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, adding that the time-tested and all-weather Pakistan-China strategic cooperative partnership was a factor of stability in the region and beyond. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said, was pivotal for Pakistan’s economic turnaround and for regional connectivity and prosperity.

He recalled that Pakistan fully supported President Xi Jinping’s vision to promote peace and development across the globe through major initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI).

Sharing perspective on major-power competition, ISSI DG Sohail Mahmood stressed that it must be managed responsibly and it should not turn into confrontation.

Dr Talat Shabbir lauded the efforts of China for global development, especially the CPEC.

Dr Neelum Nigar, Director Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP), discussing the water issues in South Asia, said that climate change and global warming were exacerbating the water-related issues. She underscored the need for collective efforts to minimise such non-traditional threats.

Amina Khan, Director Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) said that the interim government was in power in Afghanistan for two years now and was seeking to grapple with the issues of governance, human rights, and counter-terrorism. “The world must remain engaged and induce fulfillment of commitments made by the Afghanistan side.

Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC), said that Pakistan was a developing country, protecting its maritime interests while remaining within its resources. “Pakistan had the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of almost 240,000 square kilometres and to protect its coastline was a part of its national security,” he added.

Chairman Board of Governors ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, shared his views and thanked the delegation for the visit. The exchange of views covered a wide range of subjects, including the rapidly transforming global politics, Pakistan-China relations, the ‘Decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’, water issues in South Asia, evolving situation in Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s role in the Indian Ocean Region and its maritime strategy.