Pakistan NSA Refutes Claims Of China's Naval Base At Port City Gwadar, Calls It "Economic Base"

In June Forbes magazine reported, that analysts have been watching for the first signs of a long-expected Chinese naval base at Gwadar, a leading Aerospace and Defense. 

Pakistan NSA Moeed Yusuf (Image Source: Twitter)

New Delhi: Refuting claims that China is building a military base in the port city of Gwadar in Pakistan's Balochistan province the National Security Adviser Moeed Yufus said there are economic bases of China in Pakistan, where any country in the world can invest he told a UK broadcaster.

He added that "the same was also offered" to the US, Russia and the Middle East, Pakistan's Geo News reported. "We are open to all countries," the NSA said adding that Beijing is a close friend of Islamabad. 

A report earlier stated that China was building a high-security compound in Gwadar which it will probably use as a naval base. 

In June Forbes magazine reported, that analysts have been watching for the first signs of a long-expected Chinese naval base at Gwadar, a leading Aerospace and Defense. 

"The base, to complement the one at Djibouti, would strengthen China's foothold in the Indian Ocean. Recent satellite images appear to show that several new complexes have been built in the last few years. One of them, identified as a Chinese company involved in port development, has unusually high security," said Forbes.

Gwadar is located at the western end of Pakistan is expected to be a major port in China's Belt and Road Initiative, Forbes informed.

During the interview, Yusuf was asked whether Pakistan had developed such close ties with China that it refuses to raise voice against the atrocities against Muslims in the country while it raises its voice against Kashmiri Muslims. 

To which he responded, Pakistan does not agree with the Western version about the alleged atrocities being committed against Muslims in Xinjiang, Geo News reported.

"We have relations of trust with China and our ambassador and other delegations from here also visited the Xinjiang province," he observed, adding that if Western countries have a problem with China, they should talk to Beijing about it.

During the interview, Yusuf also appealed to the world to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan.