Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, on a visit to India in February, will pressure New Delhi to open talks with Pakistan over their border standoff, according to China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
New Delhi based Hindustan Times reports that Zhu begins an eight-day state visit to Bangladesh and India on Friday, according to Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi. China is "deeply worried" about Indian-Pakistani clashes, Sun added. He said that Zhu would express hopes for reducing tensions in the region through "peaceful negotiations". "It is our hope that Pakistan will step up its cooperation with the international community in the fight against terrorism," the Spokesman said "We also hope that the Indian side will ... seek solution through dialogue and negotiations."
Indian and Pakistani forces have been accumulating troops along their border following an attack on the New Delhi Parliament in December, in which India blames Pakistani-backed Islamic militants for carrying out.
Pakistani President General Musharraf denies the allegations but says he is willing to talk with New Delhi in order to reduce mounting tensions. India says it wants a stronger commitment from Pakistan on fighting terror before starting negotiating.
China has provided Pakistan with military technology and Musharraf was assured of Chinese support during recent visits to Beijing. China has long been a close ally of Pakistan, based to some extent on their mutual rivalry with India. Sun claimed that Beijing’s close ties with Islamabad were aimed at promoting stability throughout the area. (Albawaba.com)
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