China and EU urge world to back Pakistan

[Neo]

China and EU urge world to back Pakistan

BEIJING: China reaffirmed its support on Thursday for efforts by its ally Pakistan to combat terrorism after the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden by US forces, and urged the world to help Islamabad. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu stopped short of directly criticising the daring raid by US special forces on Pakistani soil that ended with Bin Laden’s death, but said national sovereignty “should be respected” at all times. “Pakistan is at the forefront of the international counter-terrorism effort. The international community should understand and support Pakistan,” Jiang told a press conference.

“We support Pakistan’s position and understand and support Pakistan formulating and implementing a counter-terrorism strategy based on its national conditions.” “We believe that terrorism is a public enemy of the international community and the it should work together to combat the potential terrorist threat,” Jiang said. “A holistic approach should be taken to address the symptoms and causes of terrorism and eliminate the breeding grounds.” Jiang had called the death of Bin Laden a “positive development” but on Thursday, she suggested China did not necessarily approve of US methods. afp

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

[Neo]

Pakistan needs support more than ever: EU

BRUSSELS: Pakistan more than ever needs support in its efforts to combat terrorism and bolster democracy following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, the European Union said on Thursday.

While the US operation on Pakistani soil “has raised questions” on the role of the country’s army and intelligence services, “there can be no doubt that we will have to rely on Pakistan’s full cooperation as a partner,” said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Catherine Ashton.

“More than ever we need to underpin the democratic elected government of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani,” he said. But he cautioned that the death of the terrorist mastermind “underlines the need for a broad and reinforced engagement of Pakistan generally, but also on security-related issues such as counter terrorism and human rights.”

The EU has been fighting for months to push through a controversial plan to offer Pakistan trade concessions as relief for its 2010 flood devastation.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has said targeted market access to the EU for Pakistan would bolster the country. “The stability of Pakistan is in everyone’s interest,” he said. afp

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan