China asks world for recognizing Pakistan's sacrifices

Beijing: China defended Pakistan after US President Donald Trump said the United States could no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for militants and warned it had much to lose by continuing to harbour terrorists.

Trump committed the United States to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan, signalling he would dispatch more troops to America's longest war and vowing a fight to win. Trump insisted that the Afghan government, Pakistan, India and NATO allies step up their own commitment to resolving the 16-year conflict, but he saved his sharpest words for Pakistan.

Reacting to the US president’s speech on Afghanistan, China asked the world to recognize Pakistan’s great sacrifices and important role in the fight against terrorism. Pakistan was on the front line in the struggle against terrorism and has made great sacrifices and important contributions in the fight.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China wanted to see Pakistan and the United States to carry out anti-terror cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and work together for the security, stability and development of Afghanistan and the region.

It is believed that China and Pakistan consider each other all-weather friends and have close diplomatic, economic and security ties.