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Asif further described Pakistan’s dealings with Washington as transactional, also stressing that despite these engagements, China remains Pakistan’s closest partner.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (left), US President Donald Trump (centre) and Pakistan Field Marshal Asim Munir at a meeting.
A day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir met US President Donald Trump at the White House, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif stated that China is not concerned about Islamabad’s “flirting” with Washington, stressing that the Pakistan-China relationship is a time-tested and reliable partnership.
His remark came during an interview with British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan when Asif was asked about Pakistan’s ties with China and the United States.
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Hasan pointed out, citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), that around 80 per cent of Pakistan’s weapons purchases over the past four years have come from China.
“We are not worried about that, because it’s a time tested relationship with China- since the late 50s… I’ll just conclude it by saying that China is not worried about our flirtations or whatever you call it.”
When asked whether Pakistan sees its “strategic future” with the US or China, Asif made it clear where the country’s priorities lie.
“In the past, even today and in future also China has been a very reliable ally, very reliable provider of arms of all kinds to us. Our Air Force, submarines, and planes. Our submarines are from there. Almost a major portion of our arms are from China, and our defence cooperation is increasing. It is much more robust than before, with China… the main reason is unreliability of other sources like the United States of America,” he said.
Further stressing about the importance of geography and trust, the Pakistani Minister said,”They (China) are reliable and they are our neighbours. We share borders and we share the geography.”
Asif further described Pakistan’s dealings with Washington as transactional, also stressing that despite these engagements, China remains Pakistan’s closest partner.
“We have had a transactional or a flirtatious relationship with the United States for a very long time. They’re reliable, and they are our neighbours,” he said.
Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir at the Oval Office in Washington. According to the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present at the meeting.
About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her…Read More
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her… Read More
September 27, 2025, 15:53 IST
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