Pakistan favors China’s inclusion in SAARC; RNAC suggested resuming its flight to Karachi

September 17, 2003
4 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

Kathmandu: The host of the next SAARC Summit, Pakistan, appears not yet sure whether the Summit will take place Islamabad at all on time given the past sad experiences.

Pakistan’s foreign minister Khurshid M. Kasuri, who was on a whirlwind tour to this country hinted that he was simply “hopeful” in this regard.

In saying so the Pak foreign minister amply hinted that his country was prepared to embrace the eventuality at that time, the corollary of which is that Pakistan hopes that the rest of the countries in the SAARC process take note of this fact and remain ever alert and concentrate their efforts in bringing the South Asian movement to its track.

Talking with a select group of Nepali intellectuals including the media, Pakistan foreign minister Mr. Kasuri pleasingly told that if neighboring China exhibited its desire in joining the SAARC process, his country would be the first one to greet China openly and that too unconditionally.

“If China is interested in SAARC, Pakistan is in support. It’s all positive for China provided the country concerned exhibits her interest in the South Asian organization”, said Kasuri.

To recall, there has been a sort of debate in some Capitals of South Asian countries on whether China should be inducted in the SAARC process or not. Intellectuals in Nepal believe that when Pakistan has unconditional support for China’s possible inclusion in the SAARC, it should be India, logically, to brush aside the proposal. However, China, through various seminars held in Nepal or elsewhere has subtly hinted that she could think on that line if proposals came to her. However, the Charter of the SAARC required unanimous assent of the members on such matters.

Interacting with the Nepali academia, minister Kasuri opined “success of the SAARC movement were key to stability in the entire South Asian region”. He also admitted that lack of internal stability in the countries of the region is what has made all the countries to lag behind compared to other countries housed in other regional groups.

On the bilateral front, the Pakistan foreign minister made it clear that his meetings with the nation’s Prime Minister and the monarch remained, in his own words, “useful and constructive”. He, however, remained tight-lipped and preferred not to disclose on what he meant by the terms “ useful and constructive”.

Analysts opine that Pakistan this time appears to have convinced Nepal that she was ready to cooperate this country going extra-miles should the recipient country approached Pakistan.

This gets reflected from minister Kasuri’s expression wherein he frankly admits that his country was “committed for the preservation of security and territorial integrity of Nepal.

Should this mean that Pakistan would come to the rescue of Nepal if some countries violated the international norms and interfered into the internal affairs of this country thereby posing a threat to its security?

On a friendly note, the Pakistan minister also hinted that his country would continue supporting Nepali armed forces by providing training to the army personnel as she had been doing the same in the past.

Intervening for a while during the interaction, the incumbent Pakistan Ambassador Zameer Akram opined that Nepal’s flag carrier for the time being could land at Karachi airport en route to Dubai.

“We are ready to provide landing facilities to RNAC in Karachi airport, if it wishes so, on its way to Dubai”, said Ambassador Akram. He, however, added that navigational experts from Pakistan and China were on the move to explore the possibility of the resumption of the PIA flights to Kathmandu via the Tibetan plateau.

All put together, what comes to the fore is that Pakistan wishes to expand her ties with Nepal on all possible sectors. Analysts predict that a few bilateral agreements might be signed at time when King Gyanendra visits Pakistan immediately after the conclusion of the festivals.