ISLAMABAD  -  Pakistan’s closeness with rival powers – the United States, China and Russia – is a diplomatic miracle thanks to the important strategic position of the country.

While China and the US remain at loggerheads on various issues, they have Pakistan as a mutual friend. Russia too is coming closer than ever to Pakistan. 

Pakistan’s close ties with three major powers have been a point of concern for India. The New Delhi has been active to discredit Pakistan, especially before the US and Russia.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told The Nation that Pakistan was free to have bilateral ties with every country of the world.

“No country has a problem if we are friendly to all of them. It is our diplomatic success that they all have confidence in us. Pakistan gives importance to its ties with China, Russia and the US,” he said.

Qureshi said Islamabad’s ties with China were historic and there had never been a break. “China is our Iron Brother. Our ties are beyond cooperation. We are brothers and have been standing with each other at all levels,” he maintained.

The FM said US was an important world power and Pakistan always had close ties with Washington.

“We are in contact with the new US administration and are going through smoothly,” he said referring to new US President Joe Biden.

With Russia, he said, a new partnership was building and the two countries had identical views on several international issues.

“The cooperation with Russia is increasing day by day. The two countries have never been this close,” he said.

The FM said Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Zamir Kabulov had held a meeting with him and the two countries had similarity of views on the Afghanistan issue.

Qureshi said Pakistan would continue good relations with three powers as well as other countries. “We even want good ties with India if they are ready to resolve the Kashmir issue,” he said.

The FM said China was time-tested friend of Pakistan, which helped Pakistan in every hour of need. 

Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said Pakistan’s foreign policy was aimed at friendly relations with world.

“With China, we have a long history of friendship. We have been close to the US for long and our friendship with Russia is gaining strength. Since we take friendship with these countries bilaterally, there has never been a problem. Pakistan is always in contact with the world capitals,” he said.

International relations expert Dr Huma Baqai said Pakistan’s cooperation with the United States for regional peace was in line with the narrative of Pakistan. “The prosperous and peaceful Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan. The present government is focusing on to strengthen its bilateral relations with all the neighbouring countries,” she said. 

Dr Huma Baqai said the conflicts of India with its neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, China and Pakistan were being witnessed by the world. 

Analyst Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal said China-Pakistan cooperation against Covid-19 challenge was highly appreciable. The regional leadership must cooperate with each other. 

“Regional and international cooperation at this point is imperative amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Defence analyst Dr Muhammad Khan said Pakistan’s growing ties with Russia were a good sign for Islamabad.

“Pakistan has good ties with Russia and has always been close to China and the US. This is an evidence of Pakistan’s good policy. We are not using anyone against anyone,” he maintained.

Pakistan, he said, was at a very important location geographically and every influential country desires good ties with Islamabad.