China assures Pak of support in case of foreign 'aggression'

Lahore, Sept 24: China has assured Pakistan of its support in the event of any foreign "aggression" and also supported the country's stance on the Kashmir dispute, a media report said.

Beijing conveyed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in the provincial capital with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Dawn reported. "In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren said in a press release by the Punjab Chief Minister's Office.

"We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris," the report quoted Yu as saying.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. India has blamed the attack on militants from Pakistan which has rejected allegations of its involvement.

Yu, who called on Shahbaz Sharif yesterday to felicitate him on his 65th birthday, discussed with him the situation developing in Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

A portion of the USD 46 billion CPEC passes through a part of the disputed region because of which India has raised objections over the project.

PTI