China calls for more anti-terror cooperation with Pakistan

BEIJING: China has said it would like to have more cooperation with the Pakistani armed forces to combat terrorism, following the brutal terror attack on an army-run school in Peshawar that killed 148 people, mostly children.

Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, visited the Pakistani embassy in Beijing yesterday and strongly condemned the attack.

He said China and Pakistan are good brothers, and the Chinese armed forces will always stand by the Pakistani people and the military.

Wang said China would like to have more cooperation with the Pakistani armed forces to combat terrorism, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

He extended deep condolences to the victims and sympathy to the families of the victims.

At least 148 people, including 132 children, died in the attack that was globally condemned.

Wang mourn the victims of Tuesday's attack claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as a retaliation to Pakistani army's campaign against the militants in the volatile North Waziristan region.

Pakistan army has launched a major offensive against the TTP militants in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal areas in which more than 1,700 militants have been killed since June.

Pakistan's ambassador to China Masood Khalid said Pakistan will work closely with China to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, which China calls the three evil forces active in its restive Xinjiang region bordering the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

A number of Uygur militants of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) active in the region were reportedly killed in recent airstrikes by Pakistan on militant bases in its tribal areas.