China asserts it will protect ally Pakistan’s core interests

BEIJING : Two days ahead of his informal summit with Prime MinisterNarendraModiinIndia, President Xi Jinping said China was closely following the situationinKashmirandwillsupport Pakistan on issues related to its “core interests”.

Xi’s remarks, made during a meeting with visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, reflected China’s consistent support to its allweather ally Pakistan – an issue thatemergedasanirritantinthe run-uptothesecondIndia-China informal summit on October 11-12.

AfterKhancalledforeffortsto avoid deterioration of the situationinKashmir,Xisaidthe“right and wrong of the situation was clear”, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

Xi added that the two parties should resolve the dispute through peaceful dialogue.

TheKashmirissuealsofound mention in a joint statement issuedaftertheXi-Khanmeeting, which said the Chinese leader “reiteratedsolidaritywith Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, independence and security”. THANE: Two people died after a palm tree snapped and a part of it fell on them during a downpour, at the state transport bus depot near Thane railway station, late on Tuesday, when thunderstorms led to 11 trees falling across the city.

While Amaan Liaquat Sheikh, 19, a resident of Kausa, died on the spot, Rupchand Deepak Jaiswal, 33, a resident of Naupada, succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

“The incident took place around 10.30pm. The tree was not in a dangerous condition nor was it recently trimmed. Owing to its height and heavy winds, half the tree broke and fell on these two. They were immediately shifted to the Thane Civil Hospital,” said Santosh Kadam, chief of Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC).

While Jaiswal was a hawker sitting below the tree, Sheikh was a salesman in a nearby showroom and was returning from work.

Families of the duo have demanded compensation from the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

Jaiswal was the sole breadwinner of his family and his wife is eight months pregnant. Jaiswal’s family lives in Rajabari, Gorakhpur, while he stays with his sister and brother-in-law. He used to sell earphones and mobile covers.

Santosh, 40, Jaiswal’s brother-in-law, said he was a familiar face at this bus stop for the past 15 years.

“When it started raining, he wrapped up his goods and was trying to lock them in a stall when the tree fell,” said Santosh.

Meanwhile, a relative of Shaikh said, “He worked as salesman for four months and took a break. On Monday, he got a call from them asking him to join work again. Tuesday was his first day after the break”.

Shaikh is survived by his father, who is an autorickshaw driver, mother and two younger sisters.

Sheikh, who usually commuted by bike, decided to take a bus and was waiting for it at the stop when the incident took place.