After Trump's Afghan policy statement, China reaffirms support to Pakistan

Published August 22, 2017
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. ─AFP/File
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. ─AFP/File

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday reaffirmed Beijing's support to Pakistan during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua hours after US President Donald Trump lambasted Pakistan for allegedly offering safe haven to "agents of chaos" in his South Asia policy announcement.

Earlier, as Beijing came to Islamabad's defence in light of Trump's remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying asserted that Pakistan was on the front line in the struggle against terrorism and had made "great sacrifices" and "important contributions" in the fight, according to a Foreign Ministry handout.

Chunying called on the international community to recognise Pakistan's role in the fight against terrorism.

During Tuesday's meeting in China, Yi and Janjua agreed that Pakistan and China would continue cooperating with each other closely in efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan.

They emphasised the importance of the trilateral Afghanistan-China-Pakistan foreign ministers' forum, which was established in June when Yi visited Islamabad on a mission to defuse tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The trilateral forum is apparently meant to sustain Beijing’s mediation space in Pak-Afghan disputes.

During their meeting, Janjua and Yi also discussed bilateral relations between China and Pakistan, regional and global issues and the situation in India-held Kashmir.

Reiterating Chunying's statement, Yi lauded Pakistan's contributions and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, adding that the international community should fully recognise these efforts.

Janjua highlighted the importance of Pak-China friendship and reaffirmed Pakistan's support to China on all issues.

The foreign secretary said that the recent visit of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on the occasion of Pakistan's 70th Independence Day anniversary, during which he addressed a flag-hoisting ceremony in Islamabad, further solidified the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China.

Opinion

Editorial

Terrorism upsurge
Updated 08 Oct, 2024

Terrorism upsurge

The state cannot afford major security lapses. It may well be that the Chinese nationals were targeted to sabotage SCO event.
Ban hammer
08 Oct, 2024

Ban hammer

THE decision to ban the PTM under the Anti-Terrorism Act is yet another ill-advised move by the state. Although the...
Water tensions
08 Oct, 2024

Water tensions

THE unresolved tensions over Indus water distribution under the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord demand a revision of...
A bloody year
Updated 07 Oct, 2024

A bloody year

Using the Oct 7 attacks as an excuse to wage endless aggression on Middle East, Israel has crossed all red lines.
Bleak cotton outlook
07 Oct, 2024

Bleak cotton outlook

THE extremely slow arrival of phutti at the ginning factories of Punjab and Sindh so far indicate a huge drop in the...
Killjoy neighbours
07 Oct, 2024

Killjoy neighbours

AT the worst of times in their bilateral relations, India and Pakistan have not shied away from carrying out direct...