Pak-China Ties
Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar faced criticism, primarily from PTI activists, for his use of “shockingly poor language” when comparing China’s strong ties with Pakistan to the US-Israel relationship.
The social media backlash emerged a day after the prime minister made this comparison during his visit to the US for the 78th United Nations General Assembly. In an interview at the Council on Foreign Relations, PM Kakar stated, “Pakistan enjoys a strategic relationship with China. We are very clear that there are people who would qualify Pakistan as China’s Israel.
“It is probably a more good analogy for the American audience because you do understand and appreciate the value of Israel for the United States.”
He made these remarks in response to an attendee’s question about the current relationship between Pakistan and China.
He further emphasized commonalities between the two neighbors, citing the One-China policy and China’s stance on issues like Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang.
Some pointed out that the statement may refer to a quote by Chinese General Xiong Guangkai, as cited in Andrew Small’s book, “The China Pakistan Axis: Asia’s New Geopolitics.”
PTI ex-MPA Taimur Khan Jhagra questioned, “Why would I want my country to be like ‘China’s Israel’? Why can we not just define Pakistan as Pakistan itself and make it a prosperous example for the world to follow? Shockingly poor language to compare Pakistan with an apartheid state that Pakistan doesn’t recognize,” he added.
PTI’s Faisal Amin Khan, brother of party leader Ali Amin Gandapur, said, “Comparing your country to a bully like Israel isn’t very smart.” He also suggested that it seemed like the prime minister had read Small’s book “on his way to New York.”
Simplifying PM Kakar’s remarks, PTI activist Virk Shahzaib posted on his X account, “The caretaker PM believes Pakistan is China’s Israel… He claims Pakistan is to China what Israel is to the US. To use any analogy that compares Pakistan and Israel is beyond condemnable and not understandable for any point of view.”
Fugitive PTI leader Hammad Azhar demanded an apology from the premier and urged him to “take back his words,” adding, “To compare Pakistan with Israel that established itself by forcibly taking possession of another peoples’ land and sustained itself through nothing other than oppression and violence is an insult.”
Dawn’s US correspondent Anwar Iqbal asked on X: “What does he want to say? Another lawyer, Dr. Alizaan, clarified, “He is not talking about the responsibility of any state (Israel or Pakistan); rather, he is trying to establish that just as Israel is a blue-eyed child to the US, Pakistan is to China.”
