China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not mince words as he raised the issue of the safety of Chinese nationals working on various projects in Pakistan with army chief Asim Munir during his visit to Beijing.
Munir, in his first visit to China after the hostilities with India in May, underscored that their time-tested partnership was solid as a rock and assured Yi that the forces would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel.
The Indian Army has claimed that China provided live inputs to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Islamabad also used Chinese equipment during the hostilities. It is a different matter that the equipment came a cropper.
During their meeting, Wang Yi said the Pakistani military was a staunch defender of national interests and reiterated that the nations were iron-clad friends and all-weather strategic partners.
“The two sides have always firmly supported each other on issues involving each other’s core interests, and have stood together thick and thin in the face of various challenges,” a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
CHINA, PAKISTAN TALK TERROR
Wang Yi also reaffirmed that China would always prioritise Pakistan in its neighbouring diplomacy, in a subtle message to India.
“China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistani military will continue to make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan,” the statement further said.
Earlier this year, China, in an unprecedented move, deployed private security personnel in Pakistan for the safety of its projects and nationals.
The development came amid a series of attacks by Baloch militants on Pakistani soldiers, rattling China as it has invested heavily in various China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
Munir, on his part, said “friendly cooperation” with China was the consensus of the whole Pakistani society and thanked Beijing for its support to economic and social development in Pakistan.
– Ends
