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Pakistan top general in Beijing: Defence cooperation tops agenda
Frontier Post ^ | 1/15/02

Posted on 01/15/2002 3:49:33 AM PST by Ranger

BEIJING (APP): Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Muhammad Aziz Khan arrived here Monday to discuss with his Chinese counterpart ways and means to further strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the defence sector.General Aziz who is accompanied by senior military officers of the three services is expected to meet top-level civil and military leadership during his week-long stay in China.

General Aziz is paying the visit on the invitation of General Fu Quanyou, Commander-in-Chief of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

On his arrival this morning, he was warmly received at the Beijing International Airport by the senior officials of the PLA, Pakistan Ambassador to China Riaz H.

Khokhar, Defence Attache Brig.

Saeed Sharif and other officials of Pakistan Embassy.

According to the Defence sources, the two sides during the talks will discuss and review the existing level of their defence cooperation.

Talking to APP, Ambassador Riaz Khokhar said that the two countries have normal military trade relations and the current visit is a part of their regular contacts.

He hoped that the visit help to discuss various aspects of their defence cooperation.

He said Pakistan and China enjoy exemplary relations in all fields.

Their cooperation in the Defence field plays a significant role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, he added.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
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To: flamefront
how come all the heavy bombing now even in Afghanistan

Strictly demolition work. The cave complexes were even bigger than anyone imagined. They are bombing deep and wide to destroy the shafts and internal chambers. And they are learning new techniques for destroying massive underground complexes, which might become very useful knowledge, who knows?

21 posted on 01/15/2002 4:44:41 PM PST by RightWhale
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To: flamefront
From the Hindu:

China to pull out off Pak. project?

22 posted on 01/15/2002 6:46:41 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: flamefront
I haven't heard US forces are leaving Pakistan. Is there another source for this?
23 posted on 01/15/2002 6:48:12 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: flamefront
War clouds have thinned: China: Zhu, Vajpayee discuss stand-off: Fernandes wants action to match words

By Jawed Naqvi

NEW DELHI, Jan 14: China said on Monday that it welcomed the easing of military tensions between India and Pakistan, virtually overshadowing separate remarks by Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes who asserted his country would not pullback troops from the border until Islamabad took some practical steps to stop cross-border terrorism in Kashmir.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters that the military build-up between India and Pakistan was discussed between visiting Chinese premier Zhu Rongji and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. She said the two leaders also exchanged their perceptions on President Pervez Musharraf's address on Saturday.

"We in China believe it indicates a resolve to fight terrorism," Zhang said, adding that India's reaction to the globally applauded address had been equally encouraging. "The positive attitude of the two countries is something we welcome."

Asked to comment on the Chinese perception of the still existing tensions between India and Pakistan, a Chinese official accompanying Zhu told Dawn that the war clouds had thinned and both countries appeared keen to resolve their disputes peacefully.

Zhang declined to comment on China's possible stance should a war become inevitable. "This is a presumption that we do not share."

She said Zhu had congratulated Vajpayee for a positive outcome of the recent Saarc summit in Kathmandu, and he hoped that this would help foster closer regional cooperation among the South Asian countries.

Some Chinese leaders have been previously quoted as suggesting an approach to resolve the Kashmir issue along the lines of the Sino-Indian boundary question, thereby keeping the talks on the dispute separate from other bilateral issues. Zhang said such a recipe could be suggested by Beijing to resolve its own problems with its neighbours but it would not present it as a model to be followed.

In his banquet address to welcome Zhu, Vajpayee did mention the progress made on the boundary question with China. "The good progress in the clarification and confirmation of the Line of Actual Control signals this intention," he told Zhu.

GEORGE FERNANDES: More than the pleasant conversation between Zhu and Vajpayee that got extended because of their "pleasant and involved interaction" beyond the stipulated time, what had clearly pleased the Chinese was that Defence Minister George Fernandes, a known China-baiter, was kept in good check. So were the thousands of Tibetan refugees who were prevented by police from staging black flag demonstrations against Zhu's visit.

Zhang declined to comment on Fernandes' stated reluctance to pull back Indian troops from the border with Pakistan. But the Chinese stance was clearly one of confidence that Fernandes' comments not withstanding, the war-like situation in its neighbourhood had abated.

Fernandes said on Monday that mobilisation of the armed forces along the Pakistan-India border is complete and any de-escalation would take place "only after cross-border terrorism is effectively stopped".

Talking to reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club on the eve of his six-day visit to the US, Fernandes said: "Our forces are fully prepared for any eventuality."

The word eventuality was also used by President Musharraf's spokesman in Kathmandu, who said that China had promised to standby Islamabad in case of any eventuality. Zhang declined to comment on where the word stood in Beijing's current equation with both key neighbours.

Fernandes stressed that India wanted to settle outstanding disputes with Pakistan through peaceful negotiations but if that failed, it could explore other options.

Fernandes said New Delhi would give time to Gen Musharraf to translate his announcement to fight terrorism on the ground. He said that the Indian people were "fed up" with terrorist attacks, which he said were sponsored from across the border.

Stating that New Delhi had launched an intense diplomatic initiative to inform the world about the menace of cross-border terrorism, he said the build-up on the border after the Dec 13 attack on Parliament was "in response to the activity on the other side".

"A permanent solution to the menace of terrorism has to be found. India will not accept terrorism in any form or manifestation and it will be fought and defeated," he said, adding that the current status of Pakistan-India ties would prominently figure during his wide-ranging parleys with the US leadership.

Referring to the recent shelling in Kargil sector, Drass and Mushkoh Valley, Fernandes said this was not by terrorists but by the Pakistani army.

24 posted on 01/15/2002 7:32:34 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: Sawdring
Fair question, sources are few and far between on this. From Reuters: Same result, different diplomatic rationale.
25 posted on 01/15/2002 8:31:01 PM PST by flamefront
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To: flamefront
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan bases are even closer to China.

I agree with you though that the resons for leaving have to do with Chinese pressure on Pakistan more than war foting.

Of particular interest are the listening posts in Pakistan. The communists are probably most concerned with those. Are they being shut down or will they be long term.

Still, China is trying to interfere.

26 posted on 01/15/2002 10:34:51 PM PST by tallhappy
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To: flamefront
Financial Times Information
All rights reserved
Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire 
Copyright 2002 BBC Monitoring/BBC  
BBC Monitoring International Reports
January 15, 2002

LENGTH: 658 words

HEADLINE: SHANGHAI ORGANIZATION TO DECREASE USA'S WORLD DOMINATION - KAZAKH PUNDIT

BODY:




The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is designed to decrease the USA's world domination, political scientist Sharipbek Amirbek said in an interview with Kazakh TV's weekly round-up programme Mezgil (Time) broadcast on 13 January. He also said that China wanted Pakistan to join this organization, and Russia wanted India to join it, but as there is tension on the border between India and Pakistan and these countries' joining the Shanghai organization may cause disagreements. The following is the text of a report by Kazakh TV:

Presenter Political scientist Sharipbek Amirbek has come to our studio specifically for the purpose of answering some of our questions. Welcome to our studio, Sharipbek Amirbek! What do you think about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO , which is seen by the Western media as a counterbalance to US political influence over Central Asia?

Amirbek In general, the SCO was set up in 1996 to tackle border issues. However, after a blueprint for a multipolar world was adopted at a meeting of the presidents of Russia and China in 1997, the SCO emerged as an organization that is against the USA and is designed to decrease the USA's domination over the world. Therefore, I believe that this above view is generally true. Presenter May the countries of South Asia join the SCO? I mean it is known that Russia and India have been military partners for a long time, as have China and Pakistan. May this issue cause any disagreement within the organization?

Sharipbek In general, there are some ideas about this. Before the 11 September events, China wanted Pakistan to join the organization, and Russia, in turn, wanted India to be a member of this organization since these countries are known to be allies. However, there is a border conflict between India and Pakistan and the latter, which blames India for Bangladesh's secession from Pakistan some time earlier in 1971 , still wants to defend its interests. Therefore, in political terms, this Pakistan's and India's joining the SCO may cause disagreements. However, the big powers pursue their economic interests. Because if India and Pakistan join the organization, then 3bn out of the world's over 6bn population will be in the organization. Therefore, this issue may be raised any time when required by economic and political priorities.

Presenter The UN has started to take measures to rehabilitate the ailing Afghan community, and we can watch this and follow events there. More and more peacekeepers are arriving in Kabul. What I have noticed is that most of these peacekeeping forces have been formed from neutral states that do not have any desire to influence Afghanistan. And, you know that an initial group of about 400 Taleban detainees have been transferred to Guantanamo in Cuba . What is your view on the USA transferring these Taleban to that far-away island? Do you think those 400 Taleban on the Caribbean will be tried as POWs or international criminals?

Sharipbek In general, as for the situation in Afghanistan, of course, the USA could have tackled all the issues lawfully before launching those operations. What is surprising about this is that US legislation seems to have been adapted to these events since it allows the waging of war against any country involved with any terrorist organization, without getting the approval of the UN.

As for the detained Taleban, the reason for them to be taken to Guantanamo is because that place is considered to be very difficult to escape from since there is quagmire all around it. In my opinion, the USA may try them as POWs who were involved in a terrorist organization.

Presenter Does this not run counter to international law?

Sharipbek It is not considered as a large-scale war, and they may be tried under US laws since they are viewed as terrorists.

Source: Kazakh Television first channel, Astana, in Kazakh 1510 gmt 13 Jan 02
27 posted on 01/15/2002 10:39:00 PM PST by tallhappy
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To: tallhappy
Sounds like the original SCO cooperation agreement has been, er, shanghaied.
28 posted on 01/16/2002 5:17:34 AM PST by flamefront
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To: flamefront
Good one.

Bump

29 posted on 01/16/2002 9:10:15 AM PST by tallhappy
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To: flamefront
Wasn't questioning your integrity Flamefront, just wanted to see the details. Thanks for digging up the article.
30 posted on 01/16/2002 7:31:08 PM PST by Sawdring
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To: Sawdring
I didn't think you were questioning my integrity.

You know, one of the best features of FreeRepublic is that multiple eyes get to dig into and examine issues; you showed that you had obviously been looking around at various articles on this news and found a lack of corroboration, something that most would take as the first signs of a questionable article, so rather I thank you for pointing that out.

When I then went an looked further I only found among a wide search only the Reuters article above. Curiously, very few are watching these hugely significant geopolitical shifts going on, fortunately you are. This very fact of the lack of news on this subject I would consider newsworthy in itself. So again, thanks.

31 posted on 01/17/2002 8:27:17 AM PST by flamefront
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