Pakistani President Describes Pakistan-China As 'Iron Brothers'

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain has described Pakistan and China as “iron brothers” during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

At the talks in Beijing on September 2, Hussain said an antiterrorist operation codenamed Zarb-e-Azb has been "successful in eradicating the terrorism from our country."

Hussain said he thinks almost all members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) have been eliminated from Pakistan.

“Maybe, if they are there, there should be very few," he said.

ETIM opposes Beijing's control over the western Xinjiang region, home to the Turkic Muslim Uyghur minority.

Xi was quoted as telling the Pakistani president that Beijing “will unswervingly support Pakistan's efforts in safeguarding its national security."

Hussain is in China to attend celebrations marking the anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dunyanews.tv