Dr. Amna Mehmood (Expert on International Relations):   Building good relations with all neighboring countries is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan and China are time-tested friends. The people and successive leaderships and governments of both the countries have made indefatigable efforts to foster, cement, and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both countries have enjoyed firm political mutual trust, close economic cooperation and ever-increasing people-to-people friendship. Pakistan and China hold the same stance on almost all major international issues. Relations between the two countries would continue to flourish as the Pakistan-China friendship enjoys the support of their masses. I am hopeful that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project will take Pak-China friendship to new heights. The  new infrastructure projects initiated with a particular emphasis on the western alignment of CPEC, which connects the most underdeveloped regions of Pakistan with Gwadar.

Dr. A.Z Hilali (Expert on International Relations): Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence with all neighboring countries, including India and Afghanistan. Pakistan and China enjoy close and friendly relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1951. Pakistan was one of the first countries that recognized the People’s Republic of China. Over the years, the relationship has blossomed into an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership”. Pakistan considers China as one of its closest friend and partner and China considers Pakistan as its “Iron Brother”. The bilateral relationship between the two neighboring countries is characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect and goodwill towards each other. There has been a regular exchange of visits at the highest level between the two countries. The strategic cooperation between Pakistan and China has grown over the past several decades. Economically, China is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a major investor, especially in infrastructure and energy sector.

Dr. Zahid Anwar Khan (Expert on International Relations): The situation in Afghanistan is crucial and volatile. There is a power struggle going on in the war-torn country. Pakistan is more concerned as it shares long border with Afghanistan. Pakistan had the highest stakes in Afghan peace, but the geopolitics of escalating violence next door indicated that peace might be much further than imagined. Pakistan has always supported for Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process as the only amicable solution to Afghan situation. With American and NATO troops having all but departed Afghanistan after 20 years of war, the country is still driven by internal conflict. Afghan Taliban are struggling to occupy northern area of Afghanistan. United States is not in position to dictate the guidelines for the stakeholders in Afghanistan. The decision for the peace and stability must be with the consensus of stakeholders within Afghanistan.

Aqeel Yousafzai (Expert on Afghan Affairs): It is a matter of concern that many precious human lives have been lost due to various violent incidents in Afghanistan in the past. Early withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan will help promote peace and stability in the region. Regional peace and stability are linked with peace in Afghanistan.  The Afghan issue must be settled down for the sake of regional peace. The international community should understand the reality that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and only politically negotiated settlement can promote peace in the warn torn country. Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process cannot be denied. Pakistan supports an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process for regional stability. The U.S. should recognize Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the region.