KARACHI: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong on Monday agreed to further strengthen counterterrorism and security cooperation, as Islamabad reels from a surge in militant attacks across the country.
Pakistan suffered two deadly attacks last week, one in a cadet college in the northwestern Wana town and another in Islamabad where a suicide bomber detonated himself outside a district court in the city’s G-11 area. The Islamabad blast killed 12 people and injured 36. While no group claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistani officials said both attacks were carried out by Afghan citizens.
Naqvi met Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad where the two discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest, the interior ministry said. Zaidong condemned the Islamabad blast and expressed condolences over the loss of lives.
“During the meeting, both sides agreed to further strengthen counterterrorism and security cooperation,” the interior ministry said in a statement.
Naqvi noted that relations between Pakistan and China are based on mutual trust and respect, describing Beijing as Islamabad’s “reliable friend” that has always come to its aid.
