China has been a major helper of Pakistan.
File
New Delhi: The US has imposed sanctions on Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme. Pakistan reacted sharply to this and condemned the US move. In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the actions were discriminatory and a threat to regional security.
Reacting to the US move, Pakistani journalist and political analyst Najam Sethi said, “Islamabad’s statement of condemnation is not enough, we have to look beyond that.” Sethi believes that the USA can also question Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi, speaking on a programme on Sama TV, said that in the 50s, 60s and 70s, “we were going towards America because there was no other resort. At the same time, India was extending its hand towards Russia. Now that America and India are getting closer, the distance between Washington from Pakistan is increasing”.
“If there is pressure from one side, it is natural to go to the other side. The more pressure the US puts on us, the more we will go towards China. If America itself is going with India, then we will go with China. In all this, India is definitely playing a fun game. It is with both the US and Russia and is maintaining a balance.”
Najam Sethi also revealed in the conversation that relations between Pakistan and China are not going well on some issues at the moment. There are two important issues, one of which is Gwadar and the other is the issue of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). These have not been resolved, due to which there is tension in Pak-China ties. If this issue is corrected, then Pakistan can get a big help from China in missile development.
Sethi also stressed that China is a major helper of Pakistan and the US sanctions will not affect the bilateral relationship. Sethi also denied that the US sanctions would halt the missile programme or deteriorate relations with America.
Najam Sethi believes that in 2025, the entire focus of the US and Israel is going to be on Iran. Iran’s nuclear programme is worrying the US and Israel the most. If the US succeeds in ending Iran’s nuclear programme in 2025, then in 2026 all the attention of the US can divert towards Pakistan’s nuclear programme.