China supports Pakistan in row over Nato border attack

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

Saeed Shah in Karachi and Jon Boone in Kabul | Monday November 28 2011 12.02 GMT

China has lent diplomatic support to Pakistan, saying it is "deeply shocked" over the deaths of the Pakistani soldiers bombarded by Nato helicopters.

=snip=

The Pakistani foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, spoke to her Chinese opposite number, Yang Jiechi, in a "40-minute conversation in which she informed her Chinese counterpart of the extreme outrage in Pakistan on the unprovoked attacks", the foreign ministry said. It added that Yang Jiechi "expressed deep shock and strong concern", adding that "Pakistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected".

Islamabad considers Beijing to be its closest ally and an alternative partner to Washington and the west. China and Pakistan both oppose US plans to have bases in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 date for ending the coalition's combat operations there.

"China is deeply shocked by these events, and expresses strong concern for the victims and profound condolences to Pakistan," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, said. "China believes that Pakistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected and the incident should be thoroughly investigated and be handled properly."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/28/china-pakistan-nato-border-attack

[tawadi]

1. LOL

Talk about play both sides of the fence.

[bloomington-lib]

2. How about we leave and let the Chinese come in and take care of the whole mess

They have plenty of money, they're closer, and they're the new power stepping up to the plate. Then when the locals get pissed off, they can take it up with China.

[_eh]

3. But of course

Wasn't chess invented in China? :rofl:

[closeupready]

4. Those who didn't know Pakistan and China have a longstanding mutual defense pact, raise your hands.

And detention for all of you history ignoramuses! :sarcasm:

[_eh]

5. So it's PAKISTAN playing both sides of the fence!

I see.....

[closeupready]

6. Um.... WAT? If duplicity is defined, for you, as protecting your sovereignty, then aren't we all

duplicitous, and so what. That's life in the big city, Elmer.

[Uncle Joe]

7. This might be the duplicitous part, if it's true.

A senior Afghan official told the Guardian that a combined Afghan-Nato squad had received incoming fire from "the so-called Pakistani post", prompting them to call for air support. "The most important point here is that they were receiving fire from the direction of that post."

(snip)


Afghan and coalition officials have accused Pakistan repeatedly in the past of failing to act to stop Taliban militants using its territory.

Afghans living in Kunar said they were delighted by the strike against the bases, saying they believed Taliban fighters were being harboured by the Pakistani army.

"These terrorists wear civilian clothes and then when they have done their attacks in Afghanistan they go to the Pakistan checkpoints," said Qari Ehsanullah Ehsan, a tribal leader from the province. "Some of them wear fake beards and then put on Pakistani military clothes when they finish their operations. The people of Kunar are happy. We have been telling the Americans for a long time that the Pakistanis are bringing the Taliban to our villages."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/28/china-pakistan-nato-border-attack

[closeupready]

8. Not the point Mr. Eh was making.

And by the way, watch the BBC's investigative report on "Secret Pakistan" on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSinK-dVrig

There are two parts to it, and it's very good, with plenty of valid criticism of how some in Pakistan's security apparatus have behaved duplicitously and have betrayed the US.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Thanks for the link.

:thumbsup: