China backs India-Pakistan anti-terror cooperation: Ministry
January 8, 2016, 5:42 am

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) meeting with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in eastern Pakistan’s Lahore on 25 December 2015 [Xinhua]

“China welcomes all measures conducive to improving the Pakistan-India relationship and supports Pakistan and India in beefing up anti-terrorism cooperation,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a press briefing in Beijing.

The deadly militant attack on the Indian air base killed seven Indian military personnel and wounded 22.

A meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan had been tentatively scheduled for Jan. 15, but it is unclear if it will still happen after the weekend attack on the Indian Air Force base near the Pakistan border.

“We sincerely hope the two countries, as China’s neighbors and friends, can settle the relevant issues calmly through dialogue and cooperation, and sustain the momentum of improving ties for regional peace and stability,” Chinese spokesperson Hua said.

During a phone conversation on Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised “prompt and decisive action” against possible Pakistan-based perpetrators of the attack on Pathankot airbase last weekend in India’s northern state of Punjab, according to a statement from the Indian prime minister’s office.

A statement from the Pakistani prime minister’s office also said that “both the PMs agreed that a cordial and cooperative relationship between the two countries would be the most appropriate response to the nefarious designs of the terrorists.”

Media reports and analysts have pointed to several security lapses in the build-up to and during the operations at the airbase.

A Reuters report quoted senior Indian intelligence officials as saying “lack of inter-agency cooperation may have hobbled the security response”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan last month, the first in almost 12 years, signalling warmer ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Mistrust between India and Pakistan is a factor behind conflict in various parts of the region, including Afghanistan.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir since they won independence from Britain in 1947.

TBP and Agencies