Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, said on Sunday that his country will not join any political camp in the world, insisting that Islamabad's strategic orientation was to "maintain relations with everyone," despite rising tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine and growing Sino-US competition.
"We do not want to be in a position that implies as if we are a part of a certain camp," Prime Minister Khan remarked during a meeting in Islamabad with journalists, former diplomats, and think-tank members.
Khan also debunked the notion that Pakistan favours China more than any other country, adding that the country's strategic goal is to "maintain relations with everyone."
In response to a query, the prime minister stated that he felt Rawalpindi, the headquarters of Pakistan's formidable army, which has dominated the country for more than half of its 74-year history, was also aware of the country's strategic position. In areas of security and international affairs, the Pakistan Army has formerly held enormous power.
Khan has already stated that in the event of a new Cold War, he will not follow the US and China.
Relations between China and the United States have reached an all-time low. The two countries are currently at odds over a number of issues, including trade, the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the communist giant's aggressive military manoeuvring in the disputed South China Sea.
Last month, Pakistan's National Security Advisor, Moeed Yusuf, stated that Pakistan would not align itself with any political movement in the world.
Pakistan has likewise kept a low profile on the Ukraine crisis, pushing for a peaceful resolution.
Near the Ukraine border, Russia has deployed about 100,000 troops. If Russia invades Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has warned that the US and its allies will "respond decisively and impose swift and severe costs."
Regarding Afghanistan, Khan stated that the international community was united on the matter.
“Europe and all the neighbouring states of Afghanistan agreed to avoid a humanitarian crisis there and stressed upon de-freezing of Afghan’s assets,” he said, adding that the US also had realised the situation.
On Friday, President Biden signed an executive order releasing USD 7 billion in frozen assets from Afghanistan's central bank to be transferred for humanitarian aid and 9/11 victims in the war-torn country.
When it came to domestic concerns, Khan mentioned red tape as one of the roadblocks to changing the country. He added that provinces' empowerment at the expense of the federal government has caused problems.
Only a government with a two-thirds majority in parliament, Khan claims, can bring revolutionary change to the country.
He also stated that his recent visit to China will expedite work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) ongoing projects worth USD 60 billion.
Fawad Chaudhry, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, claimed that seven CPEC projects had been completed so far, with the number of collaboratives working groups increasing from seven to eleven.