Pakistan, facing a crisis in relations with the United States, appears to be seeking more support from powerful ally China. Pakistani officials have been heaping praise on China since its public security minister arrived here on Monday for high-level talks as Washington piles pressure on Islamabad to cut ties with a militant group blamed for attacks on US targets.
"We are true friends and we count on each other," Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said in comments broadcast on television networks after talks with Meng Jianzhu on Tuesday. "Thank you once again.for (the) supportive statement in favour of Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity."
Making the point that Pakistan has other friends, President Asif Ali Zardari said in a statement: "In these peculiar circumstances when the country was grappling with many challenges simultaneously, Chinese assistance has been most welcome in stabilising the situation."
The military also said it appreciated its giant Asian neighbour's support. Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani thanked Meng for China's "unwavering support". "They (the Pakistanis) are trying to use their diplomatic options as much as possible to defuse pressure on them. They hope China will help them in this crisis," said security analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi.
China and Pakistan call each other "all-weather friends" and their close ties have been underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbour, India, and a desire to hedge against US influence across the region. Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, China called the event a "progressive development" but also defended the Pakistani government, which has been criticised in the US for failing to find bin Laden, if not harbouring him.
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