Minister for Defence Khurram Dastgir has said that Pakistan has always demonstrated sincerity to resolve Kashmir issue but India has shown intransigence in this regard. Addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day conference titled 'Changing Security Situation in South Asia and Development of CPEC' here on Wednesday, the minister said that relations between Pakistan and India are marked by historical animosity.
He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will open fresh avenues of cooperation among regional actors. He said Pakistan supports the peaceful and stable Afghanistan but it is only possible through participation and efforts of the regional stakeholders. Promoting regionalism is beneficial for both Pakistan and India, as external actors have always their own geo-political aspirations and solution to regional issues.
He said, "The success of CPEC hinges on our ability to deal with intricate national security issues, forging national consensus and preventing negative geo-political influences in the region." Cooperation between Pakistan and China is focused on economic development through connectivity and is not against any other country. Pakistan seeks to establish and sustain long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with the global and regional players, he added.
The minister said with one-fourths of world population and more than two-fifths of the poor, South Asia is simultaneously the fastest growing region in the world with least regional economic cooperation. He said 9/11 changed security dynamics of this region drastically.
India too, taking the opportunity, initiated the rhetoric of declaring peaceful freedom struggle of innocent Kashmiris as terrorism and since then has been blaming Pakistan for creating disorder within India, he said. In the same time frame, leaning of the US towards India created a fresh challenge for Pakistan, most significantly the 2005 US-India Civil nuclear agreement, he added.
The recently announced US policy on South Asia underscores a greater role for India in Afghanistan and the region while it does not acknowledge the exponential contribution, counterterrorism success, and sacrifices of Pakistan for peace and regional stability, he said.
There are significant strategic contradictions in the US approach. Most of the key regional and global players have not supported the US policy since it envisages India to be a net security provider in the region, he further said. In the South Asia's security matrix, there is no room for the self-proclaimed and the artificially boosted states. Regional security in the 21st century can only be ensured through relationships and collaborations based on mutual trust and equality, he said.
He lauded the efforts of the government, Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies for formulating a well-integrated security mechanism for the security of the CPEC. Pakistan Army is providing hinterland security through deployment of Special Security Division (SSD) for protection of CPEC whereas Pakistan Navy through its Coastal Security and Harbour Defence Force is safeguarding the maritime component of the CPEC, which is in addition to the raising of Special Protection Units by law enforcement agencies for security of CPEC projects.
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