On Friday, China lauded Pakistan’s efforts on combating counter terrorism and its contribution towards peace and security in the region.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian in a press conference called on the international community, especially regional countries, to carry out counter-terrorism cooperation and safeguard collective security.
When asked about commenting on questions on Pakistan’s dossier and its claims towards India’s state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, Lijian said “China opposes terrorism in all manifestations and any double standard on counter-terrorism”.
Talking about the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said that “CPEC is a major pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is of great significance to not only the common development of China and Pakistan but also regional connectivity and common prosperity.”
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On any external attempt on sabotaging CPEC, he said “We believe that any attempt to disrupt the building of CPEC would be prevented”.
Pakistan’s dossier to UN
Last week, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and military spokesperson DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar did a joint press conference.
“We are now presenting irrefutable evidence to the world to demonstrate the Indian state’s direct sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan that has resulted in the deaths of innocent Pakistanis,” the Foreign Minister told the media.
Pakistan presented evidence to the United Nations and other international bodies on Indian state sponsored terrorism on Pakistan’s soil.
Long been bitter enemies and fighting a series of wars, the neighbours’ already sour relations have worsened since the Modi government.
Pakistan has continued to claim and provided evidence of Indian covert operations through violent groups in Pakistan. India has denied these claims time and again.
In the press conference, Islamabad provided an elaborate set of detailed and specific accusations.
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The situation between the countries is already tensed since India’s lockdown of Kashmir in August 2019. The two nuclear-armed states continue to directly engage in skirmishes on the Line of Control, the de facto border in Kashmir.
In the joint press conference, Pakistan warned more terrorist activities to be conducted in major cities of the country in the upcoming months by India.
It said that India’s Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence agency has been involved in financing and training militants operating against Pakistan and has built an elaborate network of agents and training camps through its diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.
Pakistan provided a dossier containing evidence of Indian involvement with insurgency groups of Balochistan and the Taliban. The documents would prove New Delhi met with these insurgents to operate against Pakistan and its peace and security. These insurgents claimed responsibility for their mission to sabotage China and Pakistan’s Belt and Road investment plan to halt and diminish it.
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The projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor are an economic threat to India. India has bitter relations with both China and Pakistan. Prosperity and development of either of these countries will be against Indian interests.
The projects will also prove to have military benefits to them for China through Gwadar, as China will have access to a warm water port and naval benefits.
Indian Allegations
On Friday, India put allegations on Pakistan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming Pakistan backed suspected militants who threw grenades in Pulwama district on Thursday. The incident injured 12 civilians and additional security personnel. There was no evidence provided to back the claim.
Islamabad was quick to deny any involvement. “Pakistan categorically rejects the groundless allegations levelled by the Prime Minister of India against Pakistan”, The Foreign Office statement said.
“We view these as part of India’s desperate attempts to divert international attention from its state-terrorism in IIOJK and state-sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan. It is evident that India has stepped up anti-Pakistan propaganda, following presentation of the Dossier by Pakistan providing irrefutable evidence of India’s state-sponsorship of terrorism”.
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The Foreign Office said that India had increased its propaganda against Pakistan after its state sponsorship of terrorism had been exposed by Islamabad in a dossier that contains evidence of planning, promoting, aiding, abetting, financing and execution of terrorist activities against Pakistan.
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“Use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy by India makes it guilty under international law, UN sanctions regime, and international counter-terrorism Conventions. It is the collective responsibility of the world community to hold India to account and take practical steps to proceed against the Indian nationals involved in patronage of terrorist entities” the statement said.
China’s support to Pakistan
China is Pakistan’s main ally and both the countries continue to enjoy strong bilateral ties. China continues to come to Pakistan’s aid and support against India. After Modi’s accusations against Pakistan, it yet again came out for its support, lauding it for its efforts against terrorism.
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The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is equally important for both the countries. Sabotaging it will have grave implications that neither country can hold up. India’s involvement in sabotaging it according to China will never be effective.