Pakistan-US relations are no loss to China

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese ruling party’s mouthpiece, Global Times, has made it clear that US-Pakistan relations are no loss to Beijing. It has been stated in the latest issue of the journal. The paper has stated quoting official news agency of Pakistan citing a US official that the White House invitation to Pakistan represents the US willingness to repair fraught bilateral ties and rebuild an enduring partnership.

“Washington's rekindled enthusiasm toward Pakistan highlights the rising importance of Islamabad in global geopolitical landscape--particularly in South Asia, as Pakistan gives full support to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is being seen as an economic game changer in the region,” Global Times Hu Weijia opined.

With the CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative, Pakistan is able to take advantage of its geographic location and serve as a corridor in trade routes linking China and the West. The CPEC is expected to make a substantial contribution to economic growth in Pakistan, enabling the country to act confidently in regional affairs. Islamabad in June announced support for the intra-Afghan dialogue during Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's visit to Pakistan.

In some people’s eyes, stabilising Afghanistan will be an advantage for Pakistan at the upcoming summit with Trump, who wants to pull US troops out of Afghanistan. The China factor carries weight in Khan's US visit. It's possible that Washington wants to maintain pressure on Islamabad to prevent the country from getting too close to China.