China reiterates support for Pak on Kashmir issue
BOTH SIDES AGREED ON THE NEED TO SETTLE DISPUTES AND ISSUES IN THE REGION THROUGH DIALOGUE ON THE BASIS OF EQUALITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT
BEIJING: China on Saturday reiterated its support for Pakistan on the dispute over Kashmir with India, saying it opposes any unilateral action which could complicate the situation in the Indian union territory.
The situation in Kashmir was among several issues, likely topped by the death of nine Chinese personnel in a bomb blast in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region earlier this month, that was discussed at a meeting between Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi and Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held in Chengdu in southwest China on Saturday.
According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, “The Chinese side reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left over from history between India and Pakistan, which is an objective fact, and that the dispute should be resolved peacefully and properly through the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unireference
lateral actions that complicate the situation.”
“Both sides underscored that a peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia was in the common interest of all countries. Both sides agreed on the need to settle disputes and issues in the region through dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” the statement further added. China also reiterated its “firm support to Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence”.
India had earlier rejected the to Kashmir by China and Pakistan, saying, “The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India and we expect the parties concerned not to interfere in matters that are internal affairs of India.”
Qureshi and the head of Pakistan’s ISI Faiz Hameed rushed to China on Friday a week after the death of nine Chinese nationals in an attack on a bus in Dasu, Pakistan. Their visit has been linked to Islamabad’s efforts to assuage “iron brother” China that it will do more to protect Beijing’s interests, projects and personnel in the country. Remains of the nine victims were returned to China on Friday, official media reported.