Beijing – Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and Chinese military’s top brass agreeed to enhance long-term bilateral defence collaboration, intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism cooperation. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Pakistan is China’s biggest arms buyer, counting for nearly 47% of Chinese arms exports.
Gen Sharif reviewed a guard of honour along with his Chinese counterpart Gen Qi Jianguo, at the People’s Liberation Army Headquarters and then held talks with him.
Military spokesperson Maj-Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted, “The COAS held extensive meeting with his counterpart. Full range of regional security, defence-related issues discussed. Enhanced long-term defence collaboration, security and counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, training exchanges decided.”
The two sides discussed operations against militants in the border areas. “China will, as always, give firm support to Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism,” Fan said. Gen Fan praised Pakistan’s military offensive codenamed Zarb-i-Azb, terming it a “decisive, indiscriminate, bold and hard blow for terrorists,” Bajwa said.
