MUNICH: Pakistan can serve as "Bridge builder" between China and the United States amid growing global tensions, Pakistan Peoples' Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said during the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle, Bilawal highlighted Pakistan's historical role in fostering dialogue between Beijing and Washington.

"If you want to put us in a camp, we would like to see ourselves as bridge builders," he said, adding that Pakistan aims to bridge gaps rather than deepen divisions.

He described former US president Donald Trump as a "deal maker," suggesting that Pakistan could engage with the US on key regional challenges under his leadership.

He also stressed that Pakistan seeks better ties with India despite regional rivalries, cautioning that US support for India as a counterweight to China could fuel an arms race. Bilawal noted Pakistan's stable ties with China but emphasised that the country must remain connected to the broader world.

On security, Bilawal linked Pakistan's current challenges to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he said empowered militant groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Daesh.

He highlighted Pakistan's past success in countering militancy and called for political consensus to tackle the issue.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 18 2025

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