US and India +defence and security cooperation +ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's cabinet has approved a long-term defence agreement with China, a local newspaper reported on Sunday. The Express Tribune reported that the approval was given after PM Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting in Lahore on July 15 upon his return from London. The revelation comes nearly a week after theinked an agreement to increase military cooperation.The report claimed that the cabinet considered a summary on initiating negotiations on a draft agreement for the pact to enhancein diversified fields. "The cabinet was informed that the draft agreement was based on principles of mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity, sovereignty, non-integration and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and cooperation for mutual benefits, and peaceful coexistence for strategic gains in defence and security, including arms and technology transfers," the report said.Then PM Yousaf Raza Gilani had sought a defence deal with China during his Beijing trip in 2011. But the Chinese leadership advised against any such move fearing that it might strain Islamabad and Beijing's relations with Washington and New Delhi.

Source: Times of India September 04, 2016 22:46 UTC