China backs ally Pakistan, says international community must respect its sovereignty

Beijing: Backing Pakistan's stand against US drone strike that killed Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour,
China on Friday said the international community should respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan which has made "enormous efforts" to combat terrorism.

"Pakistan has made enormous efforts to combat terrorism and support the Afghan reconciliation process. The international community should fully recognise that and respect Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Representational image. Reuters

He was responding to a question over Pakistan denouncing the US drone strike in Balochistan last month as violation of its sovereignty.

Mansour, who was in his early 50s, and a Pakistani driver, Muhammad Azam, were killed on 21 May when US special forces targeted their vehicle in a drone strike in Noshki district of Balochistan.

"The Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US is aiming at creating positive conditions for the reconciliation of Afghanistan, and all relevant parties should make joint efforts to achieve this goal," he said.