Sept 29 , 2015
News
‘Zarb-e-Azb reversed wrongs of the past’
Mushahid says CPEC to give priority to less-developed provinces
ISLAMABAD – Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed - who is also chairman of Senate’s Defence Committee - has said that Pakistan and the region have been in the eye of storm since 1979 after the revolution in Iran and the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
During a lecture – Pakistan and the Changing Regional Scenario – to a selected audience of the Oxford and Cambridge Society, he said that the destabilisation of the region had led to Pakistan caught up in the last big battle of the 20th century - the Afghan war - which ended the Cold War and led to the break-up of the Soviet Union, as well as being a front line state of the war against terror after 9/11.
Former policymakers, diplomats, scholars and students were part of the distinguished audience during the lecture. Citing the positive signs that the region was witnessing as of late, Senator Mushahid said Zarb-e-Azb military operation had reversed wrongs of the past and had shown a commitment and clarity of the state, particularly the military, the government, the parliament and people of Pakistan to contain, curb and crush terrorism since that is now identified as a single biggest threat to the security.
He lauded the valour and gallantry of the armed forces as well as the civilians who have paid the biggest price in this campaign against terrorism. He also referred to the positive implications of Iran’s nuclear deal resulting in delusion of tensions, the growing convergence between China-Pakistan-US on Afghanistan, the improvement in Pakistan-Russia relations as well as the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as indicators of strengthening of Pakistan's position in the region, which would have positive implications for Pakistan.
However, he cited future challenges animating from the aggressive brinkmanship of the Indian government led by Prime Mister Naredra Modi as well as the fact that peace, security and stability were inextricably intertwined between Pakistan and Afghanistan. During an engaging question and answer session, Senator Mushahid said that education would have to be given a top priority both for boys and girls in order to for Pakistan to progress.
He also said that there could be no abiding peace and stability in South Asia without a just settlement of the Kashmir issue. Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said that this national project covering 15 years between 2015-2030, worth approximately $50 billion, would be a guarantee of the future progress, prosperity and the unity of the federation of Pakistan.
He said that one of the top priorities of the newly-formed parliamentary committee on CPEC would be to ensure that the less developed province like Balochistan and Pakhtunkhwa would benefit from the fruits of progress, starting with immediate construction of the western route through these provinces to link Gwadar and Kashgar through a modern network of road communications.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk