PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Afghanistan on Friday evinced a keen interest in becoming part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), assuring stout support for the multi-billion project.

“The CPEC is a great project that is equally relevant to Afghanistan like Pakistan, and anything that will be good for Pakistan will be good for the entire region," Ambassador Dr. Omer Zakhilwal said.

Speaking to a Pakistani TV channel, the diplomat remarked the Afghans were "thirsty for development" and desired to see their conflict-devastated homeland prosper.

He said: “I think CPEC is not limited to Pakistan, it is for the entire region, particularly Central Asia, CPEC is very much relevant to Afghanistan and it takes much interest in the project.” said

Zakhilwal, also a former finance minister, believed Afghanistan could recover from the devastation it had suffered during decades of war by joining the project.

Investment in the project rose to more than $51.5 billion in September when China and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed to lend $8 billion for upgrading the main railway line from Karachi to Peshawar.

PAN Monitor/mud