Context
Pakistan on Saturday announced that China had agreed to take control of a key Pakistani port, according to reports, while expressing hopes that Beijing may also assist in building a naval outpost there. Pakistani Defense Minister Chaudhry Mukhtar appreciated the government of China’s decision to run the Gawadar port in Baluchistan, but said he would be more thankful “if a naval base is constructed at the site of Gwadar for Pakistan.” The defense chief’s statement comes after his trip to China accompanying Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani.
