Foreign and Military Affairs
Ex-PM: Co-op with China in Kashmir is right
By Guan Xiaomeng (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-01-13 20:56
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Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sherriff has pledged the people of Kashmir have the basic right to benefit from bilateral economic cooperation and Pakistan has the right to decide where such cooperation is needed.
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 Nawaz Sherriff, chief of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and former Pakistani Prime Minister meets the media in Beijing on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. [chinadaily.com.cn] |
Speaking to media in Beijing on Wednesday, the leader of the country's biggest opposition party said the criticism by India of the Chinese-involvement projects in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir is unfair.
"We have the rights to carry out economic activities in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and no one can deprive us of such right as economic cooperation with China," Sheriff said.
A report in last December's Financial Chronicle said India was mulling imposing restrictions on companies and projects with Chinese investment including power generation and mining to urge China concern about the disputed Kashmir region.
In response to anti-terrorism efforts, Sheriff, the current Pakistan Muslim League (PML) chief said he wants this problem to be resolved as quickly as possible because it is seriously affecting life of the Pakistani people and called on the international community to exchange views to find a best solution to this problem.
"We (with India) have spent a long time fighting with each other and ignored the fundamental rights of the people. But we thanked China for their support to each of the Pakistan issue."
He said Pakistan appreciated the "all-weather" friendship with China and the Sino-Pakistani relationship remains "steadfast" despite ups and downs in the past.
"China is the most reliable friend to Pakistan and we want to further cooperation with China both economically and politically."
Sherrif is on a visit to the Chinese capital where he had met with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Wang Jiarui, Minister of the International Department, Central Committee of CPC earlier this week.
