TASHKENT: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar on Thursday warned of a spillover effect of the catastrophic situation in Gaza, which can go beyond the region.
In an interview with a Turkish media outlet, on the margins of 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the prime minister said that an unfolding human tragedy is being witnessed in the region. It will have a spillover effect, not just in the region but probably beyond.
He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has continued incessant attacks since the October 7 Hamas offensive, and establishment of a human corridor for uninterrupted supply of medicines, food, and other essential items.
ECO session on Gaza situation
The PM said that Pakistan is looking forward to attending a special session of ECO, adding that the Organization should deliberate upon the situation, and come up with a “collective response.”
Defending Pakistan’s move to deport undocumented illegal immigrants, Kakar said that his country took the decision a bit late, but is fully determined to have a regulated movement across the border.
He said that the illegal immigration has never been encouraged by any nation anywhere in the world. So why it is expected from Pakistan that it should treat the undocumented Afghan nationals otherwise.
He added that every country wants to have a regulated movement with other the citizens of other states. In the long run it will be in the best interest of Afghan nationals and Pakistanis to have a normal, regulated movement like the rest of the world.
Talking about Pakistan-Turkiye relations, the prime minister called for enhanced coordination and cooperation between the two countries, dubbing the bilateral ties as “fabulous.”
He said that there are many areas such as trade, defense, and agriculture in which ties can be improved. But that cooperation can be upgraded and enhanced. And some opportunities, even developing corridors, where the connectivity matters between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Iran can be revived, which will create many opportunities to all the countries and the whole region.
About the multibillion dollar 4-nation energy corridor, involving Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India (TAPI), the prime minister said that despite an alleged disinterest from India, Islamabad is focused to reap the benefits of the long-pending project.
On TAPI, there is a lot of enthusiasm from Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. It can ensure sustainable and cheap supply of energy to the Indian economy. But if they choose to remain out of the benefit of this arrangement, they still can do it.
He further said that with or without India, the Turkmen gas can be exploited for the economic benefit of the region, and we are very much focused to achieve that target.
The 7 billion dollars project aims to bring natural gas from the Gylkynish and adjacent gas fields in Turkmenistan to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.
