Beijing/Islamabad: China on Wednesday put up a strong defence of its all-weather ally Pakistan saying it was at the front lines of the fight against terrorism, a day after India and the US asked Islamabad to rein in cross-border terror.
“China thinks that the international cooperation against terrorism should be enhanced and stepped up. The international community should give full recognition and affirmation to Pakistan’s efforts in this regard,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.
His remarks came in response to the India-US joint statement issued after the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
“We have to say Pakistan stands at the front lines of the international counter terrorism fight and has been making efforts in this regard,” Lu said in response to the statement in which India and the US had asked Islamabad to ensure that its soil is not used for cross-border terror.
The joint statement issued Tuesday after Modi-Trump meeting had also called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks.
Modi and Trump also vowed to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate safe havens for terrorists.
Ahead of the Modi-Trump meeting, the US State Department had set the tone for the summit by declaring Syed Salahuddin, chief of Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, as a ‘global terrorist’.
The State Department’s action had sent out a strong message against the terrorism emanating from the country which is hurting India.
During their meeting, Modi and Trump had had also “committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al Qaida, Daesh, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), D-Company (led by underworld don and terror mastermind Dawood Ibrahim), and their affiliates.”
On the Modi -Trump talks to improve Indo-US ties, Lu said China is pleased over countries developing friendly cooperative relations.
“We think such relations play a positive and constructive role in upholding peace and stability in the region.
About US recognising India’s role in stabilising Afghanistan, Lu said, “the realisation of peace and stability in Afghanistan is also in line with the general interest of the regional peace and stability.”
“We always maintain that the peace process in Afghanistan should be an Afghan-led and owned one. We also welcome all parties’ constructive efforts to this end,” he said.
Pakistan accused the US of “speaking India’s language”, saying it seems the “blood of Kashmiris” is “not at all important” to America.
Voicing Pakistan’s concern, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar alleged that the Indian government was committing serious human rights violations in Kashmir and trying to paint “freedom fighters” as terrorists.
Nisar said that India’s actions in Kashmir should concern every principled nation, Dawn news reported Wednesday.
“It seems as though the blood of Kashmiris in not at all important to the US, and international laws relating to human rights do not apply to Kashmir,” Nisar said.
Deliberately overlooking “the worst kind of state terrorism” in Kashmir has not only adversely impacted the values of justice and international principles, but also laid bare the double standards of powers who claim to champion human rights and democratic values, the minister said.
Nisar said the Pakistani government would not compromise on the rights of Kashmiris, and that the struggle would continue until Kashmiris receive justice and their rights as defined in United Nations’ resolutions.
The nation is united in sending a message of solidarity to Kashmir, and remains firmly committed to providing Kashmir diplomatic, political and moral support, he added.
On Tuesday, Pakistan slammed as “completely unjustified” the US’ designation of individuals supporting the right of “self-determination” of Kashmiris as terrorists, a day after America declared Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as a “global terrorist”.
