Author: Agencies
Publication: IBNLive.com
Date: January 22, 2009
URL: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pak-bonds-with-china-says-doesnt-need-us/83393-2.html
Pakistan is not dependent on America's financial
aid as long as it has China as a friend, the country's foreign minister has
said.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said China has the authority
to speak for Pakistan about the post-Mumbai attacks situation. Qureshi, while
speaking at a Chinese New Year function in Islamabad, said he had given a
"blank cheque" to China's Vice Foreign Minister and told him that
Pakistan would endorse whatever he said in New Delhi about the post-Mumbai
attacks situation.
"Thee way you sent your special envoy
to Islamabad and when I was seeing him (Chinese minister) off at the Foreign
Office, I said to him you could go to Delhi and you have a blank cheque from
us. Whatever you say Pakistan will endorse. That is the level of trust and
confidence we have in you," said Qureshi after the new administration
of US President Barack Obama listed out terms for Pakistan to receive financial
aid.
Qureshi said that relations with China was
the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy and had withstood regional and
global changes.
Pakistan and China have complete trust, mutual
understanding and convergence of views on bilateral, regional and international
issues, Qureshi said.
The new Obama administration has told Pakistan
that it is accountable for the "security in the border region with Afghanistan"
and the financial aid it receives would depend upon its performance in the
fight against terrorism.
"(President Barack) Obama and (Vice President
Joe) Biden will increase non-military aid to Pakistan and hold them accountable
for security in the border region with Afghanistan," the White House
said in its foreign policy agenda document released after Obama took over
as President on Tuesday.
Pakistan's envoy to Washington has objected
to the statement. "Pakistan hopes that Obama will be more patient while
dealing with Pakistan. We will review all options, if Obama does not adopt
a positive policy towards us," Hussain Huqqani told Geo TV in Islamabad
on Wednesday.
According to the envoy, "Bush was more
inclined to Pakistan. Obama should hear us out. He must pay attention to other
factors in the region."
Speaking about Pakistan's role in the war
against terror, Huqqani said that Pakistan was an ally of the US and participating
in the war against terror was in its own interest.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS.)
