Pak, China to work closely to address strategic issues

(WARNING): Article contains propaganda!

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Islamabad: Pakistan and China will work closely to address regional security and strategic issues, including "intra-regional disputes and posturing of involved states," an apparent reference to a purported report which claimed that India is preparing for a two-front war with both.

During talks between a Pakistani team led by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Tariq Majid and Gen Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army yesterday, the two sides focused ways of addressing "the tenuous specter of strategic stability in the region," an official statement said.

The latest round of the Pakistan-China Defense and Security Talks also decided to address the "intra-regional disputes and posturing of involved states."

Ma is heading a Chinese delegation that is holding talks with Pakistan's top military leadership.

Though the statement did not mention the specific "intra-regional disputes" that were discussed, analysts believe it was an apparent reference to Indian Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor's purported comments that his force is preparing for a two-front war involving Pakistan and China.

The bilateral defense and security talks are aimed at "sharing perspectives on the fast-evolving regional security situation for developing common insight into emerging scenarios and coordinating common responses," the statement said.

The comments purportedly made by Kapoor have been widely criticized by Pakistan’s civil and military leadership.

An unnamed official was quoted by the influential a newspaper as saying that the dialogue had a "greater significance" because it took place against the backdrop of Kapoor’s reported remarks about a "proactive strategy of simultaneously waging a war against Pakistan and China."

Both sides have taken the remarks seriously and "vowed to frustrate attempts to jeopardize regional security," the official said.

Gen Majid described the "time-tested multi-dimensional Pakistan-China strategic partnership as the bedrock of stability in the region."

He said: "As the world grows more complex and regional situation more challenging, it has become even more critical to add greater depth and dynamism to this relationship."

During yesterday's discussions, the two sides also discussed the impact of "changing global security dynamics, progress in efforts against terrorism and violent extremism (and the) revised US strategy for Afghanistan," the statement said.

The discussions also focused on threats related to terrorism by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a militant group fighting for an independent state in China’s Xinjiang province, and measures for the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan.

The ETIM is believed to have close links with al Qaeda and militants based in Pakistan’s tribal belt.

The Pakistani and Chinese military officials conducted a "comprehensive review of bilateral military cooperation and the progress of various ongoing defense projects."

They made specific proposals for "mutually beneficial future collaboration in operational, training, intelligence, logistics and defense industrial fields, including indigenisation projects and joint ventures."

The statement did not give details about these projects. Pakistan has received two of four F-22P frigates ordered from China and plans to induct 42 JF-17 Thunder combat jets, which are jointly developed by the two countries, into its air force over the next few years.

Pakistan is also set to receive four airborne warning and control system aircraft from China by 2012.

Source: Zee News.
Link: http://www.zeenews.com/news594837.html.