Pakistan can serve as a “bridge builder” between China and the United States in the midst of the growing global tensions, said the president of the Peoples Party of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, during the margin of the Munich Security Conference.
Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle, Bilawal highlighted Pakistan’s historical role in promoting dialogue between Beijing and Washington.
“If you want to put ourselves in a camp, we would like to see ourselves as bridge builders,” he said, adding that Pakistan aims to join gaps instead of deepening the divisions.
Bilawal described the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, as a “transiator”, suggesting that Pakistan could commit to the United States in key regional challenges under his leadership.
He also emphasized that Pakistan seeks better ties with India despite regional rivalries, warning that the support of the United States to India as a counterweight for China could feed an arms race.
Bilawal pointed out Pakistan’s stable ties with China, but emphasized that the country must remain connected to the broader world.
Last year, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry reiterated that relations with China and the United States were equally important, rejecting zero sum diplomacy.
On security, Bilawal linked the current challenges of Pakistan with the withdrawal of the United States of Afghanistan, which he empowered militant groups such as Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh.
He highlighted Pakistan’s past success in counteracting militancy and requested a political consensus to address the problem.
Pakistan had played a fundamental role in establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and China in the early 1970s, acting as a key intermediary.
In 1971, Pakistan facilitated secret communications between the United States and China. Then President Yahya Khan served as a conduit between the president of the United States, Richard Nixon, and Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai.
Pakistan organized a clandestine visit for US National Security Advisor.
Kissinger’s visit paved the way for President Nixon’s innovative trip to China in 1972, marking the beginning of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Pakistan’s role was crucial due to his friendly ties with both nations at that time, which beat the country a good diplomatic will from the United States and China. This triangular diplomacy also helped Pakistan strengthen his international position, especially when he was sailing for regional challenges with India.
