Sunday, 30 January, 2022 I 26 Jamadi-al-Sani, 1443 I rs 15.00 I Vol XII no 212 I 12 Pages I Lahore edition
PM accuses West of double standards on Xinjiang, questions ‘deafening’ silence on KashMir g
'Time-TesTed' PakisTan-China relaTionshiP growing sTronger: says imran khan
ISLAMABAD
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rime minister imran khan saturday said the “selective silence” of the west on human rights violations in indian illegally occupied Jammu and kashmir (iioJk) was “deafening” as he called out their “double standards” in highlighting China’s alleged mistreatment of Uighur muslims in Xinjiang. “what we find very difficult to swallow in Pakistan is that while they talk about Uighurs, they do not talk much in the west about kashmir (indian illegally occupied Jammu and kashmir) because the worst human rights violations are taking place there by india,” the premier said while taking questions during an interview with Chinese journalists here in islamabad. “somehow there is selective silence about human rights in kashmir where around nine million people are basically living in the worst conditions — [it’s] almost an open prison — by these 800,000 indian troops. on one side they talk about Xinjiang, but on the other, there is this silence
on iioJk, which is deafening for us.” The prime minister said that while there was a lot of criticism from the west about the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang, Pakistan’s ambassador to China had visited the region and found that “this is actually not true on the ground.” during a previous interview with Chinese journalists in July 2021, the premier had said that Pakistan accepted Beijing’s version regarding the treatment of Uighurs due to “our extreme proximity and relationship”. saturday’s interview with Chinese media comes a few days before the premier’s scheduled visit to China to attend the inaugural session of the winter olympics in Beijing. The visit comes amid a boycott of the event by the United states. while expressing his eagerness to attend the upcoming winter olympics during his visit to China, Prime minister imran khan said the time-tested relationship between the two nations has only grown stronger over the decades. during an interaction with members of the Chinese media, the prime minister said both countries enjoyed bonds of friendship
spanning over a period of 70 years, further cemented by the China-Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC). he said: “There is a feeling in Pakistan that China always stood with us in times of need and supported us during difficult times. similarly, Pakistan also always stood with China.” khan also referred to the construction of the karakoram highway as a vital milestone in the chapter of Pakistan-China friendship. a number of Chinese workers died during the 13-year period of its construction, he recalled. To a question, he said the most impressive thing about China as acknowledged by the entire world was its success in taking 700 million people out of poverty during the last four decades, adding such a huge achievement is unprecedented in human history. he said it was such a feast that had impressed the world. “it is this fact which also impressed me as it coincides with my objective of steering my people out of poverty,” he added. The prime minister while responding to another question maintained Pakistan would like to emulate the steps taken by China to alleviate poverty. “we want to emulate the Chinese model of inclusive growth. The Chinese economy growth witnessed the prosperity of all Chinese people,” he maintained. he said such inclusive growth excluded the bridge between the rich and the poor. China had been a model for all those countries that wanted inclusive growth, he added. such exponential growth, he said, also contributed to wealth creation. “China remained focused on the economy and when it attained growth, its fruits trickled down to all strata of society.” responding to the west’s critique of China over its reported treatment of ethnic Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, the prime minister said Pakistan’s ambassador in China visited the region and concluded that such claims were divorced from reality.
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Afghan soil won’t be used against Pakistan, Mullah Hanafi tells Moeed KABUL Agencies
acting deputy Prime minister of afghanistan mullah abdul salam hanafi saturday reassured national security adviser moeed yusuf and other members of the visiting Pakistani delegation that the delegation that afghan soil would not be used against its neighbours, including Pakistan. a Pakistani delegation led by national security adviser moeed yusuf arrived in kabul on saturday to hold discussion with the government of afghanistan on matters of mutual interest. later, moeed held meetings with afghanistan Foreign minister amir khan muttaqi and acting deputy Prime minister mullah abdul salam hanafi. acting minister for Commerce and industry nooruddin azizi received the delegation at hamid karzai international airport. senior officials, including Pakistan’s special representative for afghanistan mohammad sadiq, were also part of the delegation. a statement issued by the presidential palace in kabul quoted hanafi as saying: “The policy of the islamic emirate [of afghanistan] is clear that that we will not allow anyone to use afghan soil against [our] neighbours and other countries.
“we also want similar action from others,” he added while hosting the inter-ministerial delegation in the afghan capital. Pakistan ambassador to afghanistan mansoor ahmad khan said the nsa held a “productive meeting” with muttaqi to kick off the visit. “[he] will have multiple official meetings to strengthen humanitarian and economic engagement,” he tweeted. moeed was earlier scheduled to travel to kabul on January 18 for a two-day visit but the trip was delayed due to bad weather. The purpose of the visit is to ascertain the humanitarian, economic and development needs of afghanistan in various sectors. PAk-AfgHAn border: moeed travelled to kabul at a time of tensions along the Pak-afghan border. earlier this month, a video had surfaced on social media purportedly showing Taliban fighters uprooting a portion of the fence along the Pak-afghan border, claiming that the fence had been erected inside afghan territory. it had drawn a response from interior minister sheikh rasheed, who said that the remaining fencing of the frontier would be completed with the consent of the neighbouring country, stating that “they are our brothers.”
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