Pakistan Flaunts New Airport from China, Faces Unexpected Jibe from Beijing

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Flights have finally started at the new Gwadar International Airport given by China to Pakistan. On this occasion, while Pakistan is calling it a symbol of 'friendship with China', China has termed it as a mere 'donation'. This airport, whose foundation stone was laid by the then Prime Minister Imran Khan in March 2019 was inaugurated by the current Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in October 2024.

According to China's news agency Xinhua, the first flight landed at this airport located in the southwestern Balochistan province on Monday. A flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) arrived here at 11:14 am. The flight was welcomed by Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and other senior officials of the Pakistan government.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on this occasion called it an important example of friendship between Pakistan and China. He said, we have crossed a milestone in connecting Gwadar to the Middle East and Gulf countries with the Middle and Eastern countries. At the same time, Global Times, considered to be the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has termed it a 'donation'. According to their report, operations have started at the new Gwadar International Airport, built and financed by China as a grant.

Airport Features

It is a 4F grade state-of-the-art airport capable of handling the largest civilian aircraft. It has a 3,658-meter long and 75-meter wide runway, the foundation of which has been specially laid to suit the coastal terrain. Airport managers say that this will improve Pakistan's air connectivity with other countries. Thus, while Pakistan is looking at this airport as a strengthening of relations between the two countries, China is portraying it as mere assistance from its side.