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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: CountofMoneyCristo who wrote (12076)	12/21/2001 4:51:45 PM
From: lorne	Respond to of 27666

Count...The plot thickens. Pakistan's Musharraf Backs Chinese Anti-Separatist Campaign By Joe McDonald Associated Press Writer Published: Dec 21, 2001 BEIJING (AP) - Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf promised Friday to support China's crackdown on Muslim separatists, state media said, as the two governments affirmed support for Afghanistan's post-Taliban government. Musharraf assured China's leaders that its longtime ties with Pakistan are sound, despite his government's growing relations with the United States in the war on terror. China is eager to make its fight with separatists in its northwestern Xinjiang region part of the American-led anti-terror campaign, though Washington has rejected that link. Beijing says hundreds of guerrillas from its Uighur minority have trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Pakistan will wholeheartedly support China's battle to strike against the East Turkestan terrorist forces," state television quoted Musharraf as telling Vice President Hu Jintao. East Turkestan is another name for Xinjiang. The Pakistani leader met Friday with Premier Zhu Rongji; Li Peng, chairman of China's legislature and the most senior Communist Party leader after President Jiang Zemin; and other leaders. Musharraf held wide-ranging talks Thursday with Jiang. "Our friendly relations do not change with the changes in the international situation or within our respective countries," Li told Musharraf. Musharraf replied, "Whatever events are taking place, our friendship remains at the same very high pitch." China has supported the anti-terror campaign and Pakistan's role in it, though Beijing is uneasy about the U.S. military buildup to its west. Beijing and Islamabad have been allies for decades, united in part by their mutual rivalry with India. China is a key arms supplier to Pakistan. Li supported Pakistan's desire for a key role in shaping post-Taliban Afghanistan, where Musharraf favors forces with ethnic links to Pakistan instead of the dominant northern alliance. "The resolution of the Afghan question cannot be achieved without Pakistan's involvement," Li said. A Chinese Foreign Ministry official said Beijing and Islamabad supported the new Afghan government due to take office Saturday. The administration of Prime Minister-designate Hamid Karzai is to hold power for six months. "Both Pakistan and China will support this process," said Sun Guoxiang, deputy director-general of the ministry's Asia bureau. Sun said Jiang stressed China's desire for peace between Pakistan and India. Tensions worsened after a suicide attack this month on India's parliament that New Delhi blamed on Pakistani-backed guerrillas. Musharraf's government denied responsibility and condemned the attack. On Friday, India said it will recall its ambassador to Pakistan and cut bus and rail links on Jan. 1. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it would exercise a "policy of restraint" and keep its envoy in New Delhi. There was no immediate response from Musharraf himself. ap.tbo.com