China Stands by Pakistan Amid International Scrutiny

Strategic Insights -

In the aftermath of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil, China has come to the rescue of its ally Pakistan, voicing unwavering support for Islamabad's counterterrorism efforts. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu emphasized that Pakistan has made significant contributions to international counterterrorism cooperation and has made great sacrifices. The statement was made ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's visit to China, which aimed to strengthen economic ties and foster a sense of strategic cooperation between the two nations.

Key Takeaways:

  • China has vowed to "unswervingly" support Pakistan's efforts to counter terrorism, recognizing it as a common challenge faced by the international community.
  • Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu acknowledged that Pakistan has made important contributions to international counterterrorism cooperation and has made great sacrifices.
  • Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani described China as his country's best friend and a time-tested ally, underscoring tensions with Washington following the US raid that killed bin Laden.
  • Gilani's visit aimed to cement economic ties between the two countries and initiate a China-Pakistan Entrepreneur Forum to foster cooperation in entrepreneurship.
  • Pakistani officials played down speculation that Pakistan-US cooperation on terrorism would suffer in light of Islamabad's efforts to move closer to China.

Statistics:

  • China has promised to strengthen anti-terror cooperation with Pakistan by providing more aid and assistance.
  • Pakistan has made great sacrifices in its fight against terrorism, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu.
  • The US has provided massive anti-terror aid to Pakistan, but concerns have been raised about the country's effectiveness in combating terrorism.
  • Bin Laden was killed in a US raid on Pakistani soil on May 2, 2011.
  • NATO helicopters from Afghanistan wounded two Pakistani soldiers in a cross-border attack on [date].

Sources:

  • Global Times
  • Xinhua News Agency
  • Chinese Foreign Ministry
  • Pakistan's official PR agency