New Delhi: Even as the United States asked Islamabad to expedite its efforts in bringing down perpetrators of the Pathankot terrorists attack to the book, China on Saturday said Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and China, India, Pakistan and the international community need to make joint efforts instead of accusing each other.
“I think you cannot say just in a go Pakistan. Pakistan is also a victim of terrorists’ attacks. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and External Affairs Ministry have also strongly condemned the terror attack. The government of Pakistan, and we are all, against terrorism – that’s for sure,” said Chinese Ambassador to India, Le Yucheng, on Saturday when his response was sought on the evidence provided by New Delhi to Islamabad linking Pathankot terror attack to Pakistan.
“The terrorism is our common enemy that we have to confront and fight against,” he said treading cautiously on the issue.
Condemning the Pathankot attack Yucheng said China is also a victim of terrorism and shares the feeling and anger of India.
“We strongly condemn terrorist attacks wherever they take place. China is also a victim of terrorists’ attacks, so we share the feeling and anger of the Indian people. We have strengthened our cooperation to confront terrorism,” he said.
“Over the years, we have a lot of contacts to discuss how to cooperate in dealing with the terrorist attacks. It is an important task not only for China, but for the international community to strengthen our cooperation to meet the challenges posed by terrorism and confront it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US has sent a tough message to Pakistan for the third time to act fast against perpetrators of Pathankot air base attack.
Talking to reporters in Washington, D.C., a senior US state department official asked Islamabad to walk the talk on its promises to act tough against terrorists operating from its soil.
He also asked Pakistan to conduct a complete and thorough probe into the terrorist attack on Pathankot air base.
He said the US was in touch with Pakistan on this issue, adding that Pakistan had said they were going to investigate.
It should be aggressive in its counter terror operations and bring the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to justice, he said.
According to officials in Washington, D.C., it would become very difficult for the US to convince the Republican-controlled Congress to approve the sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan, if Islamabad is seen as reluctant in taking action against terrorist groups. (ANI)