BEIJING: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived here in Beijing on Monday for a three-day official visit. The visit is taking place at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The diplomatic trip comes amid heightened regional tensions following last week’s ceasefire between Pakistan and India. The ceasefire followed a military standoff linked to the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which India attributed to Pakistan, although no conclusive evidence has been presented.
China lent unwavering support to Pakistan when India launched missile strikes targeting Pakistani civilians under the garb of eliminating so-called terror camps. It is widely believed that China worked closely with Pakistan throughout the crisis, providing critical military as well as diplomatic support to deter India.
China publicly backed Pakistan and sent a clear message that it supports Islamabad to safeguard its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The four-day conflict proved immensely beneficial for China, whose J-10C fighter jets and PL-15 missiles helped Pakistan down six Indian fighter jets, including highly-advanced French made Rafale.
Before departing for Beijing, DPM Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the strong trade and diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and China, Associated Press of Pakistan reported.
Dar noted that he had held two recent telephone conversations with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who extended the invitation for the official visit.
He said his meetings with Chinese leadership would cover a broad range of topics, including political, regional, and global issues, as well as the recent tensions between Pakistan and India.
Referring to his discussions with foreign counterparts worldwide, Ishaq Dar stated that these interactions have revealed attempts by India to shift blame onto Pakistan, including allegations related to attacks on nuclear installations.
During the visit, the Foreign Office said Dar will hold in-depth discussions with Wang on the evolving regional situation in South Asia and its implications for peace and stability.
The two sides will also review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-China bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.
The visit forms part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China. It also underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to further “strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership”, the statement said.
