Author: Our Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: October 17, 2001
The "all-weather friendship" between
China and Pakistan is under severe strain. The latest source of aggravation
seems to be a memo from the Chinese foreign ministry and civil aviation
authorities banning nationals of Pakistan and 18 other countries from buying
tickets on Chinese state-owned airlines travelling to the US or Europe.
According to the South China Morning
Post and news agencies, travel agents in Hong Kong and Beijing have been
told not to sell tickets to Muslim passengers who want to fly by Chinese
airlines on North American and European routes.
The 19 countries include Afghanistan,
Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Oman, United
Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Sudan, Kuwait, Libya,
and Algeria. The ban will not be restricted to the Pakistani passport holders
alone, but will be extended to all those of Pakistani origin with "unusual
background."
