Pak, China sign agreement to enhance defence cooperation

Pakistan and China on Monday signed an agreement to boost the bilateral defense cooperation and capacity building of the Pakistan Army. The agreement was signed during Vice Chairman Central Military Commission (CMC) General Xu Qiliang's visit to Pakistan's army headquarters in Rawalpindi with a high-level delegation.

"An MoU was signed for enhancement of defense cooperation and capacity building of Pakistan Army," the Pakistan Army said. General Xu held a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa which was followed by the delegation-level talks, the Pakistan Army said.

They also discussed matters of mutual interest and regional security, as well as avenues to enhance bilateral defense collaboration, the army said. The visiting dignitary affirmed that China greatly values its time tested relations with Pakistan and is looking forward to further solidify this relation, it added.

They also exchanged views on the "situation in Jammu and Kashmir", it said. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated the State into two Union Territories on August 5.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.