China sends delegation to defuse tension between Indo-Pak

Islamabad, Dec. 28 (ANI): In an effort to defuse tension between India and Pakistan, China has sent a seven-member delegation headed by its Deputy Foreign Minister, He Yafei, on a visit to the two neighbouring nations.

The Pakistan foreign office spokesman, Mohammad Sadiq, informed The Dawn that the Chinese minister had arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit.

After arriving in the capital, He Yafei met Foreign Secretary, Salman Bashir and discussed the current regional situation after the Mumbai attacks.

Yafei said that rising tension was not in the favour of India or Pakistan. He also emphasised the need to maintain peace and stability in the South Asian region.

The Chinese delegation is expected to hold talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on its two-day visit, before leaving for New Delhi.

The minister will leave for New Delhi on Monday evening for meetings with Indian leaders.

Earlier, the Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee spoke with his Chinese counterpart and urged him to pressurise Pakistan to arrest the culprits of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan called Pakistan's Foreign Minister Qureshi to express concern over the escalating tension in South Asia.

Turkey also assured Pakistan that it would play its due role in preventing a conflict in South Asia. (ANI)