Ties with India ‘only problem’ for peace in region: Pak PM

Beijing, April 27 

Pakistan’s relationship with India remains the “only problem” for peace and stability in the region, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said and expressed hope of establishing a “civilised relationship” with New Delhi after the Lok Sabha elections are over.

Unless there is peace and stability in the region, economic prosperity is difficult for Pakistan, and that is what right now the Pakistan government is working on, Khan who is in China to take part in the Second Belt and Road Forum, (BRF) said while addressing China International Cultural Communication Centre here on Friday.

Khan said Pakistan hoped that the political solution in Afghanistan would succeed and the war-ravaged country attained stability.

“Whatever happens in Afghanistan affects the Pakistan’s bordering areas. So we are working for a peaceful region. We have decent relationship with Iran and we are trying to strengthen them,” he was quoted as saying by state-run APP news agency.

“The only problem right now is our relationship with India. But we are hoping that after the Indian elections, we will again hope to have a civilised relationship with India too,” he said.

Since his arrival here on April 25 to take part in the BRF meeting which concluded on Saturday, the Cricketer-turned-politician refrained from speaking on India-Pakistan ties which in the past two months have experienced severe strains following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack carried out by the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e Mohammed which killed 40 CRPF personnel.

His emphasis during the visit appears to be firming up more projects for the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of China’s ambitious trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). — PTI 

Stability a must

"Unless there is peace and stability in the region, economic prosperity is difficult for Pakistan, and that is what right now the Pakistan government is working on." — Imran Khan, Pakistan PM

Pacts worth over $64 bn signed at BRF meet

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the cooperation agreements worth more than $64 billion were signed at a CEO conference during the Second Belt and Road Forum which concluded here on Saturday. A total of 283 items of practical outcomes were achieved .