China offers support for ‘ironclad friend’ Pakistan, urges dialogue with India

China has reaffirmed its “ironclad” support for Pakistan while encouraging dialogue with India to ease tensions between the two South Asian neighbours following deadly clashes earlier this month.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks in a meeting with his visiting Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday.

“As an ironclad friend, China will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity … and support Pakistan in resolutely combating terrorism,” Wang said, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement.

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It said Dar had updated Wang on the situation and Pakistan’s viewpoint since a ceasefire was agreed with India on May 10.

Dar thanked China for “upholding justice and making unremitting efforts and significant contributions” to promote the ceasefire.

“Pakistan will firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and at the same time is willing to maintain dialogue with India to ease the situation,” Dar, who is also deputy prime minister, was quoted as saying.

In response, Wang said Beijing supported Pakistan and India to properly handle their differences through dialogue and to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire.

It is Dar’s first foreign trip following days of tit-for-tat drone strikes, missile launches and artillery fire between the two sides that erupted after a militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 people.

South China Morning Post