Balance of power shifting from West to East, says Mushahid
* PML senator says Western friends left Pakistan in the lurch after using it during the Afghan Jihad years

ISLAMABAD: Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has said that 21st century is the Asian Century and the balance of economic power is shifting from the West to the East.

He made these remarks while talking to a 14-member delegation of the Royal College for Defence, UK, led by Maj Gen Simon Porter, which visited the Parliament House on Tuesday for a meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Defence.

In his welcome remarks, Defence Committee Chairman Senator Mushahid stated that the committee is proud of the valiant role of the armed forces in combating terrorism and would continue to promote harmonious civil-military relations in the country.

He briefed the delegation in detail about the Pakistan’s regional security scenario, progress in Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its impact on the economic development of the country and regional economic cooperation. He was of the view that CPEC would usher in a new era of development and would help in regional integration paving the way for socio-economic growth.

Mushahid said that “Pakistan has faced violence and instability in this region since 1979, and our Western friends left us in the lurch after using Pakistan during the Afghan Jihad years”. He added Pakistan was pursuing peaceful foreign policy to normalise relations with India and efforts to promote regional security and stability.

He elaborated that negative narrative mindset still prevails in India while in election campaigns in Pakistan there is no India-bashing. He strongly condemned the present statements of the Modi government. “We believe in peace,” adding that “peaceful and progressive Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan,” he said. Operation Zarb-e-Azb, he added, was launched to eliminate terrorist hideouts in North Waziristan and after one year, positive impacts are visible. The operation has received full support from all the political leadership and all segments of the society.

The meeting was followed by a question-answer session. The delegates of the Royal Defence College, UK, asked questions about Pakistan-India relations, regional situation and other important issues. Members of the delegation appreciated the candid approach of Senator Mushahid and praised his frank views on regional and international situation.

The meeting was attended among others by Senators Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmizi, Sehar Kamran, Hidayatullah, Moulana Attaur Rehman, Brig (r) John Kenneth Williams and Defence Committee Secretary Dr Pervaiz Abbas.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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