Beijing, November 12
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari today discussed Indo-Pak ties and issues of international importance, days after US President Barack Obama endorsed India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat.

Zardari, who is in China to take part in the opening ceremony of the Asian Games at the southern city of Guangzhou, had a “frank exchange of views” with Wen on the sidelines of the event.

“Pakistan is committed to the peace process with India and desires to have friendly and good relations with India. We sincerely wish to hold meaningful dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” Zardari told Wen.

The two leaders discussed “various issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations, situation in the region and matters of international importance,” Pakistan’s state-run APP news agency reported.

The two, who had delegation-level talks followed by one-and-one meeting, vowed to “further strengthen the Sino-Pak deep-rooted multi-faceted ties and strategic relationship through increased cooperation in diverse fields,” it said.

“There was unanimity of views on various issues of regional and international importance, with particular reference to peace and stability of region,” the agency said.

This is the first high-level meeting between the leadership of the two countries after Obama’s endorsement of India’s candidature for a permanent UNSC seat during his maiden visit to New Delhi early this week. — PTI

Karachi, November 12
Around 10 heavily-armed militants, who attacked and destroyed the CID headquarters in this southern Pakistani port city killing 21 people and wounding 140 others, were trying to free their detained men.

“The terrorists aim was to get their men freed from detention, but they failed,” Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah told reporters after visiting the blast site today.

Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) was behind yesterday’s brazen suicide attack on CID building, located at a walking distance from the Sindh Chief Minister’s House and two five-star hotels.

“Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is behind the attack on CID building at Karachi,” he told reporters in Islamabad today.

Soon after the attack, Tehrik-e-Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attack, warning more attacks if its demands were not met.

Earlier this week, the CID had arrested six activists of the LeJ, one of the most violent anti-Shia groups with links to the Al-Qaida. — PTI

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