Most reliable friend: Pak PM’s big shoutout for China after ceasefire with India

In a strong reaffirmation of ties, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave a special shoutout to China during his media address on Saturday, calling Beijing the country’s “most reliable friend.” Sharif’s remarks came just hours after China, after maintaining a neutral stand on India-Pak tensions, voiced support for Islamabad on Saturday.

“My speech today will be incomplete if I don’t mention our most reliable friends, China,” said Sharif. “I want to thank China from the bottom of my heart. I thank the respected President and the people of China who have, for the past 58 years, stood by Pakistan.”

Sharif made the remark while announcing a ceasefire with India and thanked China for its support. He also thanked Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Iran, citing their support to establish a ceasefire.

Earlier on Saturday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday said that his country would continue to stand by Pakistan in upholding its “sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence”. Wang Yi acknowledged Pakistan’s “restraint and appreciated its responsible approach under challenging circumstances”.

“He reaffirmed that China, as Pakistan’s All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partner and iron-clad friend, will continue to stand firmly by Pakistan in upholding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national independence,” the Foreign Office said.

The Chinese foreign minister made these comments during a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

However, just hours after the ceasefire deal, Pakistan late on Saturday night launched a series of missile and drone attacks across the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, violating the ceasefire.

Following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, China maintained a neutral stand, urging both the sides to exercise restraint and de-escalate. Beijing has backed Islamabad diplomatically and responded critically to India’s military operations targeting areas in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Tune In