Willing to work with India, Pak on counter-terrorism: China

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said counter-terrorism cooperation plays an important role in India-China relations

Ahead of Sino-India talks on counter- terrorism, China today expressed "willingness" to work with both India and Pakistan in the fight against terror, raising hopes that it may take up with its all-weather ally New Delhi's concerns about cross-border terrorism.

Responding to reports that the Indian government this time would push for greater cooperation from China on counter- terrorism, including pressuring Pakistan to act on terrorist groups based in that country, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said counter-terrorism cooperation plays an important role in India-China relations.

"Chinese side is willing to stay incommunication with India, Pakistan as well as other countries in the fight against terrorism," she said, raising hopes that China, which has close ties with Pakistan, this time may take up India's concerns over groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

"You mentioned Pakistan. Counter-terrorism cooperation is also part and parcel of China-Pakistan strategic cooperative partnership. The two sides are in sound cooperation in this regard," she said referring to Pakistan military crackdown on East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) militants who carried out violent attacks in China's Xinjiang province bordering Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Under pressure from China, Pakistan army launched air and ground operation called Zarb-e-Azb in Waziristan and other tribal areas where Xinjiang's separatist Uyghur militants affiliated to Al-Qaeda operated.

During his last month's visit to Beijing, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that there were a "small number" of them (militants) in tribal areas.

"They are all gone or eliminated. There are no more there," he had said. He also denied any differences between "all weather friends" Pakistan and China in addressing the problem.

Replying to a question about India's concerns over terrorism, Hua said, "We believe the fight against terrorism in all forms will be conducive to peace, stability and security of each and every country as well as security and stability of the whole region."

Ahead of the Wednesday's meeting, Indian officials said in New Delhi that this time China's help will be sought to prevail on Islamabad to rein on militants.