BEIJING: China vehemently denied that Pakistan was targeted on issue of counter-terrorism in any manner whatsoever in the joint declaration issued at the end of BRICS summit in the Chinese city of Xiamen.
Pakistan’s name was not even mentioned in text of the declaration. There is no question of any change in China’s consistent policy supporting Pakistan on counter-terrorism, said Chinese diplomatic sources here on Wednesday.
The terrorist organizations mentioned in the declaration were the same listed by the United Nations, there was nothing new, the sources said adding, the security concern shown by the BRICS’s member countries were only confined to the situation in Afghanistan.
China strongly believes that terrorism should not be linked with any particular country or religion. We oppose terrorism in its all forms and manifestation. There should be no double standard to this effect, and the World should address the root-cause of terrorism.
China has time and again urged the World Community to recognize and appreciate Pakistan’s sacrifices in rooting out terrorism.
The sources emphasized that no country should claim any victory in respect of the contents mentioned in the joint declaration. BRICS was a multilateral forum that took a unanimous position on the issue of common concern.
The sources recalled that China has prompted reacted in support of Pakistan after US President Donald Trump while announcing new Afghan’s policy said the United States could no longer be silent about Pakistan’s alleged ‘safe havens’ for militants.
It was stated by the Chinese said that Pakistan was on the front line in the struggle against terrorism and had made ‘great sacrifices’ and ‘important contributions’ in the fight.
China and Pakistan consider each other ‘all-weather friends’ and have close diplomatic, economic and security ties, as well as enjoying a great amount of trust in their cooperative partnership at all levels.
Clarifying the actual position, the sources drew the attention towards the joint declaration that stressed on the need for immediate end of violence in Afghanistan and expressed “concern” over the security situation in the region.
The declaration says, “We strongly condemn terrorist attacks resulting in death to innocent Afghan nationals. There is a need for immediate cessation of violence. We reaffirm our support to the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to achieve “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” peace and national reconciliation, to the ongoing international efforts, including the Moscow Format of consultations on Afghanistan and “Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process”, as well as multimodal connectivity projects to promote peace and stability, to the fight against terrorism and drug-threat, and to the national reconstruction efforts by Afghanistan.
We, in this regard, express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al-Qaida and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
We deplore all terrorist attacks worldwide, including attacks in BRICS countries, and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever and stress that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. We reaffirm that those responsible for committing, organizing, or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable. Recalling the primary leading role and responsibility of states in preventing and countering terrorism, we stress the necessity to develop international cooperation, in accordance with the principles of international law, including that of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
We reaffirm solidarity and resolve in the fight against terrorism, value the 2nd BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group Meeting held in Beijing on 18 May 2017, and agree to strengthen our cooperation.”
INP