BEIJING, Nov 28: China and Russia sought on Monday an ‘earnest and meticulous’ investigation into the Nato strikes that killed at least 24 Pakistani troops and the Organisation of Islamic Conference condemned the incident.

In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said China was ‘deeply shocked’ by the Nato air strikes and demanded an investigation into the incident.

“China is deeply shocked at the incident and expresses strong concerns and deep condolences to the victims in Pakistan,” spokesman Hong Lei told a news briefing.

“China believes that Pakistan’s independent sovereignty and territory should be respected and that this incident should be earnestly investigated and handled in a serious manner,” Mr Hong said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar in a telephone call that “leaders of Nato in Afghanistan should carry out a meticulous investigation into this incident”.

“Violations of state sovereignty, including in the cases of planning and carrying out anti-terrorist operations, are unacceptable,” he said, according to a statement from his office.

In Jeddah, the Organisation of Islamic Conference termed the Nato strikes on check-posts in Mohmand Agency an attack on the “country’s sovereignty and integrity”.

“We condemn Nato attack on Pakistani check-posts,” OIC Secretary General Akmaluddin Ihsan Oglu said.—Agencies