Panel Discussion on "China-Iran Deal: Prospects for Pakistan" - Press Release issued by Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad.

Islamabad -- June 10, 2021 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)

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The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) had a Panel Discussion on 'China-Iran Deal: Prospects for Pakistan'. The distinguished speakers included: Dr Syed Qandil Abbas, Assistant Professor, School of Politics and International Relations, QAU; Dr Ali Ahmadi, scholar and analyst of economic statecraft and US foreign policy in the Middle East based in Tehran and Dr Talat Shabbir, Director China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at ISSI.

Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Director General, ISSI and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman ISSI also took part in the discussion. During her opening remarks, Ms. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA, said that the conclusion of this agreement is a major milestone in China-Iran bilateral relationship. It comes at a particularly difficult strategic moment for both countries as they navigate tensions with the United States. Iranian leadership has termed China as a 'friend of difficult days', and now when Iran is struggling to respond to economic pressures in the face of continued US sanctions, China's decision to up-grade the relationship presents an economic lifeline.

She said that it is needless to say, the latest expansion of the multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will give relief to a downtrodden Iranian economy while providing China with a strong foothold in the Middle East. She concluded by saying that while the whole world closely follows progress in expanding China-Iran ties, no one is more eager than neighbour to both Iran and China - Pakistan which has direct political, economic and security interests, and will also be the country benefitting most from expanding cooperation in its immediate neighbourhood.

Ambassador Chaudhry said that very little is known about this deal. He said that, strategically speaking, it appears as a natural partnership between Pakistan and China based on their shared relations with the United States and their prospective of collaboration in energy and investment exchanges. While talking about the impacts of the deal on Pakistan he mentioned that instability in Afghanistan will also affect the deal. Given the requirements of China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) it is important to focus on the Balochistan province which will help give impetus to business...