- Friday, February 28, 2025
Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif said he personally felt that some appreciation was required in the US about his country’s current situation.
By: Shubham Ghosh
DAYS BEFORE Indian prime minister Narendra Modi left for the US on a state visit, aiming at deepening ties between the two nations further, Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif reacted saying it does not mind with the US having deeper ties with arch-rivals India, provided it does not come at the expense of Islamabad.
The 73-year-old leader said this during an interview with Newsweek on Saturday (17) where he was asked about New Delhi’s expanding ties with Washington.
“I think we do not have any problem with the United States developing a partnership with India if it is not at the cost of Pakistan,” Asif said, adding Islamabad wanted good relations with its neighbours and regional partners.
“We have common borders with China, we have common borders with Afghanistan, Iran, India. We would like to improve our relationships with them if the relationship is not good. We want to live in peace. If there is no peace there, we will never be able to restore our economy the way we want to restore it,” the minister was quoted as saying.
While admitting that Pakistan’s economy is vulnerable, Asif said he personally felt that some appreciation was required in the US about his country’s situation and that it should not be pushed to a situation where it has to make hard choices.
“Our relationship with America for us is very valuable. It has its history. It has some disappointments, some huge disappointments, but still we value our relationship with the United States and we want that relationship to flourish.
“We are big trade partners, we have a very large Pakistani diaspora in the United States and Pakistani interests over there. So, their business interests are also, considering our size, they are quite attractive and large,” Asif was quoted as saying.
“This is something which we have to balance and, under the circumstances, under economic pressures, we are finding it difficult, but we survive.”
While Pakistan had been closer to the US in the Cold War era and India pursuing the path of Non-Alignment with a proximity to the erstwhile Soviet Union, the post-Cold War era, the rise of global terrorism and new economic realities saw equations between the countries undergoing a sea change.
Modi’s visit in the US will feature a state dinner with president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden and an address to a joint session of the US Congress besides engagement with diplomats, officials, business leaders and the Indian diaspora.
