Kasuri sees foreign conspiracy behind attacks on Chinese nationals

ISLAMABAD: Former Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri has urged the authorities of Pakistan and China to pull their resources to defeat forces seeking to disrupt the collaboration between the two countries.

“It could happen by greater intelligence cooperation, as well as, by all other means that are required, which is in line with the interests of Pakistan and China, and our bilateral relations,” said the former foreign minister.

Addressing a news conference in Beijing as leader of a delegation of “Understanding China Forum”, a Pakistan-based think tank, Mian Kasuri warned that the terrorist attacks, which killed Chinese nationals clearly showed that hostile forces were seeking to disrupt the collaboration between Pakistan and China. He stressed that only by promoting greater coordination in counter-terrorism efforts between the two countries, such forces could be prevented from succeeding in future.

He reminded that there were forces that did not wish Pakistan and China to work together. Kasuri pointed out that the security situation in Pakistan had deteriorated in recent years, and unfortunately, some countries used the anti-state elements within Pakistan to disrupt the bilateral relation between Pakistan and China. “They are hostile to Pakistan and China, and are not happy with China-Pakistan cooperation,” Kasuri asserted.

Kasuri said the issue of counter-terrorism cooperation will be among the prominent topics in future high-level exchanges between the two countries.

During the Pakistani delegation’s visit to China, the members also met with Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong. Pakistan reiterated its traditional support for China on international issues during the meeting, particularly on the issues of South China Sea, as well as on the one-China principle.