Imran replicates India’s offer to Sri Lanka

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 24

Pakistan has sought to replicate India’s offer for security and development cooperation with Sri Lanka during its PM Imran Khan’s two-day visit to Colombo.

Pakistan offered Sri Lanka a defence line of credit (LOC) of $1 5 million and pitched for the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Khan made the offer after being received by his counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa at the airport and given a red-carpet welcome accompanied by a 19-gun salute

India too has been offering defence LOC and activating different types of connectivity projects with neighbouring countries. However, New Delhi’s bid to start a container project in Sri Lanka has not borne fruit so far despite an in-person visit by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to wrap up its loose ends.

Though Pakistan has supplied arms to Sri Lanka, India has far substantial footprints of security and defence cooperation as well as much greater economic and developmental involvement.

“Pakistan is part of the One Belt and Road initiative of China, and CPEC is one of its flagship programmes. And it means connectivity,” said Imran Khan while offering connectivity up to Central Asia.

Imran Khan is the first world leader to visit Sri Lanka since the Covid pandemic struck in March last year. He met his counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa and called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Pakistan PM also led delegation-level talks that reportedly covered trade and investment, health and education, defence and security, and culture and tourism, according to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry.