Pakistan turns to China as ties with U.S. suffer

ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) — Pakistan, facing a crisis in relations with the United States, appears to be seeking more support from powerful ally China.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani talks with China's Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu during their meeting at the prime minister's residence in Islamabad September 27, 2011. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

Pakistani officials have been heaping praise on China since its public security minister arrived here on Monday for high-level talks as Washington piles pressure on Islamabad to cut ties with a militant group blamed for attacks on U.S. targets.
"We are true friends and we count on each other," Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said in comments broadcast on television networks after talks with Meng Jianzhu on Tuesday.
"Thank you once again...for (the) supportive statement in favor of Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity."
Washington accuses Pakistan's powerful ISI spy agency of directly backing the Afghan Taliban-allied Haqqani network and of providing support for the September 13 attack on the U.S. Kabul mission.

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