China did not push Pakistan for operations against the Red Mosque, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui said.

 

It is the consistent policy of China not to meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries, he told The News, a major Pakistani daily.

 

Luo said he was considering an invitation to visit the mosque but was made impossible due to the unstable security situation.

 

"We enjoy very cordial relations with the ruling party here and likewise we maintain friendly ties with other segments of the society including the political parties of the opposition," he said.

 

On July 10, Pakistani troops stormed the Red Mosque, ending in bloodshed.

 

"I had no knowledge as to why Chinese nationals are being targeted and were the victims in five recent incidents," Luo said, referring to several Chinese who were killed in that country.

 

He said if Chinese continued to be targeted, cooperation between the two countries could suffer. To protect the 3,000 Chinese working in Pakistan, China and Pakistan have decided to set up Joint Task Force (JTF), the ambassador revealed.

 

China and Pakistan are still close friends and neighbors, Luo said.

 

The Chinese government is in discussions about proposed Chashma-III and IV for nuclear power projects.

 

Chashma-II will be completed early next year, he said.

 

(China Daily July 18, 2007)