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ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
has welcomed Taliban’s desire to become part of multi billion dollars
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Monday, Sheikh Rashid
Ahmed said the CPEC is the jugular vein of Pakistan, and the
friendship between Pakistan and China is higher than the Himalayas.
The Interior Minister said that those who perpetrated recent suicide
attacks in Gwadar and Mastung had come from Afghanistan. He said
the Afghans have assured that they will not allow their land to be used
against Pakistan.
He said Pakistan desires peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said
progress of Pakistan and Afghanistan is interlinked.
Sheikh Rashid said “it is good” if the Taliban’s views about China were
similar to that of Pakistan. Sheikh Rashid said CPEC was an economic
lifeline for Pakistan, adding that “Pakistan is proud of its friendship
with China and if the Taliban hold similar views, then it is really good.”
The minister also revealed during the presser that suicide bombers in a
Gwadar blast of Aug 20 and another explosion targeting FC convoy on
Mastung Road in Quetta on Sunday had been identified, and said they
had come from Afghanistan.
Sheikh Rashid also said that India had 68 training camps in
Afghanistan, which are now dysfunctional.
The minister reiterated that Pakistan supported peace, development
and prosperity in Afghanistan, saying “the peace in the two countries
is interlinked.”
Responding to another question, Rashid said Pakistan would take
decisions about its side of Torkham, Chaman, while the Taliban had
the authority to make decisions on their side. He, however, added that
the [Pakistan] government would decide about those who were coming
into the country without documents.
He said Afghans had assured their territory would not be used against
Pakistan, while the latter also made the same assurance to its
neighbours.
“However, in this country, there is BLA, Daesh and other terrorist
organisations, but our Army has the capacity to deal with them
effectively,” the minister added.
When asked about the visit of DG ISI to Kabul, Rashid responded that
Gen Faiz dominated Indian media for two days. “It seemed as if he
visited Delhi instead of Kabul,” he said. He insisted that Afghanistan
was going to be the cynosure of world politics in days to come.