Editor's Note:

China and Pakistan have long been "iron brothers" and all-weather partners. The strong relationship has been recently revived by Chinese President Xi Jinping's commitment to a "community of shared destiny." How will the two countries further boost ties? With Pakistan grappling with militancy, are China's projects in the country safe? Global Times (GT) reporter Qu Xiangyu talked to Syed Tariq Fatemi (Fatemi), a veteran diplomat and presently the Foreign Affairs Minister of State and Special Assistant to Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, over these issues.

Syed Tariq Fatemi Photo: Qu Xiangyu/GT

GT: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is important to the peace and prosperity of Pakistan, as well as to China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative. How is it progressing? Is it under threat from militants?

Fatemi: This is a project that we take many years and many billions of dollars. It will transform the entire region because it will establish connectivity among the countries of the region, bringing economic growth and development, contributing to the prosperity, as well as strengthening peace and stability in the entire region.

We are not merely depending on economic growth to counter terrorism, we are actually engaged in a massive military operation to target all militants irrespective of their origin or their political affiliation. All militants and terrorists are being targeted because we want to clear the whole country of these militants. And cooperation in this area, just like the cooperation in other areas between Pakistan and China, has been remarkable.

GT: Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed that China-Pakistan relationship embodies the concept of a community of shared destiny. How do you evaluate current bilateral ties within the Asia-Pacific geopolitical landscape?

Fatemi: The Chinese leadership has, for many decades, pursued the policy of seeking friendship with all neighboring countries. The current government in Pakistan headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also believes that the stability is strengthened by reaching out to neighbors, which we, in Pakistan, call a policy of establishing a peaceful neighborhood.

The countries of Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia are ones with similar backgrounds. Many of them have emerged after centuries of colonial exploitation. China's increasing interaction with these countries helps both China and them. China is increasingly seen by the world as the engine of growth, especially for this part of the world.

We believe in similar political and economic philosophies; we believe that establishing peaceful relationship is the vital approach; we believe that sharing our technological, knowledge and know-how is to the advantage of the entire region; and we believe that settling our differences through a process of dialogue is a vital approach.

GT: There have been reports of Chinese nationals being kidnapped in Pakistan in recent years. Is Pakistan safe for visitors?

Fatemi: I want to tell my Chinese brothers and sisters that militancy is a problem that is plaguing and affecting virtually every single country in the world. Pakistan has done more than any country in the world to take on the challenge of militancy. How? For the last 14 months, the government of Pakistan has sent nearly 200,000 soldiers into the mountain areas on the border of Pakistan and on the border of China to take on the militants.

The government of Pakistan is taking special measures to ensure the protection of the Chinese workers, engineers, technicians, who are going to Pakistan to assist it in the various projects. The safety and security of our Chinese brothers and sisters is of the utmost importance.

GT: Some US media have reported that Pakistan is building 20 nuclear warheads every year, and will become the world's third nuclear power. What's your comment on that?

Fatemi: What can you expect from the Western media? You will always see negative stories about Pakistan and about China in the US media. This is very regrettable.

Our nuclear program is very normal. Our nuclear reactors are under IAEA safeguard. The world leaders have publicly stated that the security and safety of Pakistan's nuclear assets are second to none.

And finally, our problem is only to ensure the defense of Pakistan. It is a deterrent. It is not a weapon for use. It is to deter, to discourage, those who have evil designs on Pakistan.

And yet I want to recall to you that during the entire 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, we repeatedly went to the UN, and we said that we do not want nuclear weapons, and that we are willing to shut down our programs; we are willing to accept the international inspections provided our neighbor also does so. The threat to Pakistan is from our neighboring country.

GT: The scheduled national security advisor meeting between Pakistan and India was called off recently. Will this affect the relationship between the countries?

Fatemi: The day Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to office, the very first message the Pakistani prime minister conveyed to him was his belief that India and Pakistan must learn to live in peace and resolve the differences through dialogue.

Both leaders were present in the Russian city of Ufa for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. And then the two prime ministers met on July 10. And they agreed that, because of the rising tension between the two countries, two national security advisors should meet, so we prepared for the meeting.

But prior to the meeting, the Indians placed pre-conditions on what can be discussed, what cannot be discussed and who we should meet and who we should not meet. Now this is against international practice. Never before in the history of Pakistan and India talks, has any side placed pre-conditions. If India insists on the pre-conditions, the talks cannot take place.

But we have made it very clear that the India-Pakistan problems, which are many and serious, can only be resolved through a dialogue process. We are willing and prepared to enter to a series of dialogues with India, any time, any place, bilaterally, regionally. We are prepared for the UN to play a role in it. We are prepared for the secretary general to play a role in it.