China’s state-run Global Times media organisation carried an article wherein it pushed India to accept the ‘olive branch’ extended by a top Pakistani army general to join the $45 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“Surprise aside, New Delhi should consider accepting the olive branch Pakistan has extended in a bid to participate in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” said the article, reported PTI.
The article added that Beijing will strongly oppose any attempt to label Pakistan as ‘supporting terrorism’, reiterating China’s support for its all-weather ally.
Earlier in December, it was reported that Lt Gen Riaz, Commander of the Pakistan’s Southern Command, said India should ‘shun enmity’ with Pakistan and ‘join the USD 46-billion CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits’.
“The best way to reduce hostilities is by establishing economic cooperation based on mutual benefits to put aside what cannot be reached by a consensus,” it said.
The offer by Pak, the article said, could be transient and could be overwhelmed by opposition voices if New Delhi ‘does not respond in a timely manner to the General’s overture’.
The article said that some international forces, and India in particular, are accustomed to look at the CPEC and the One Belt and One Road initiative from a geopolitical perspective.
“To ensure the smooth advancement of the CPEC, it is necessary for Pakistan to have a stable and peaceful domestic and periphery environment and a favourable profile,” it said.
“The CPEC is not only a bilateral cooperation, but also a multilateral project in the long-run, which aims at regional economic integration. So it’s open and inclusive, and China and Pakistan hope India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries can participate and become stakeholders,” the article added.
