Tazeen Akhtar : Pakistan China Desk
As far as CPEC second phase is concerned, it is mainly the upgradation of Pakistan Railway that is called ML 1. It is 1872 Kilometer Railway that China was ready to upgrade but Pakistan said Asian Development Bank will also participate. China was astonished that when we are doing then why Asian Bank?”
He said that second phase will be worked upon by private sector of China. They want to do it in Chinese Currency and not in Dollar. He revealed that Pakistan Railway demanded share in this project. Here too the Chinese were astonished on What Share? We build it for you and also give you share?
He said that the issue of consecutive attacks on Chinese in Pakistan can not be settled with “We will do this and that ” . Officials repeat the same things and do nothing. Karachi attack was total failure of our security and see no one has been held responsible.
He warned about the status of KP Province. He said the situation of this province is very dangerous (refering to the territorial integrity of the country).
He said ” The ruling party there is PTI that is anti establishment, second force there is PTM (Pakhtoon Tahaffuz Movement) that is also against the center, third force is TTP (Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan) martyring the soldiers and supported by Afghan Taliban. Therefore Pakistan badly needs to take well thought steps there to avoid any untoward incident.
Mushahid Hussain said that Pakistan’s Afghan Policy is a total failure. We always boasted that Taliban are our people but we can see how are the relations with “our people.” Afghanis are poor but proud nation. Pakistani agency tried to buy them on which President Karzai was angry but it also created a joke , ” Karzai said , our people can not be purchased, you can hire them instead.”
He expressed satisfaction on some measures taken recently by Pakistan on Afghanistan. 1- appointment of Mohammad Sadiq as Special Representative 2- Soft statement of Chief of Army Staff 3- Statement of Spokesperson Foreign Office that Wakhan is part of Afghanistan.
On Imran Khan and Donald Trump, he shared that Trump has a liking for Imran Khan. PTI supporters in Pakistani diaspora in US have contributed to the campaign of President Trump with votes and notes both. Their only demand is get Imran released. Trump needs not call himself. He has friends in Middle East who played the same role for Nawaz Sharif as well.
” Trump will ask MBS of Saudia and SMZ of UAE to call Pakistan for relief for Imran. Pakistan is not in position to bear the pressure. Imran may get relief soon and in the current year, Mushahid was sure.
On Bangladesh, he said, the parliamentary elections on 07 Feb were fraud elections. The real opposition BNP was totally ousted from the contest. General R Irshad’s party was friendly opposition party that was allowed to contest elections. Bengalis are the only public in the world who have changed their “founder of the nation”. Pakistan should build and enhance relations on equal basis. Bengal has asserted its Muslim identity that is important to note.
