China: Pathankot attacks aimed at disrupting India-Pakistan ties

Says the strikes might have been launched intentionally to disrupt the thaw in bilateral relations.

“We condemn this attack...At this juncture this attack might have been launched intentionally to disrupt this momentum [in Indo-Pakistan ties]. Many media reports have such doubts...,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying (in the picture) told a media briefing in Beijing

China on Monday condemned the armed attack on the Pathankot air base, and hoped that it will fail in its objective of disrupting the new momentum in India-Pakistan ties.

“We condemn this attack... At this juncture, this attack might have been launched intentionally to disrupt this momentum [in Indo-Pak ties]. Many media reports have such doubts..,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing in response to a question on the strike.

Ms. Hua said that there were “signs of improvement” in New Delhi-Islamabad ties, which was welcomed by all sides. In an apparent reference to the Lahore meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, Ms. Hua noted, citing media reports “that the meeting between Indian and Pakistan leaders was very successful”.

The spokesperson stressed that an uninterrupted dialogue between India and Pakistan was a key factor in promoting regional peace and stability.

“India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia. The improvement of relations between the two countries is of paramount importance to regional peace and stability. China hopes that India and Pakistan can enhance their cooperation and dialogue regardless of these disruptions,” she observed.

Ms. Hua signaled that an India and Pakistan should step up their dialogue to counter terrorism in a comprehensive manner. “We believe that India and Pakistan should work together to maintain positive momentum. We condemn all forms of terrorism and we believe all sides should enhance dialogue and cooperation to combat all forms of terrorism,” she said.

Published - January 04, 2016 04:09 pm IST