China, Pak say oppose J&K ‘unilateral’ action

THE ISSUE FIGURED IN THE SECOND STRATEGIC DIALOGUE OF CHINESE AND PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTERS IN HAINAN

BEIJING: China has told Pakistan it opposes any “unilateral” action that complicates the situation in Kashmir, after Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi of his country’s concerns regarding the situation in the Indian state.

The Kashmir issue figured in the second strategic dialogue of the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers in the southern province of Hainan on Friday. Qureshi arrived in China on Thursday for talks against the backdrop of the India-China LAC standoff.

“The Pakistani side briefed the

Chinese side on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, including its concerns, position and current urgent issues,” said a joint statement issued at the end of the twoday strategic dialogue.

“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 unilateral actions that complicate the situation,” it said. China and Pakistan believe a “peaceful, stable, cooperative and prosperous South Asia was in common interest of all parties”, the statement said. It added: “Parties need to settle disputes and issues in the region through dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”

There was no immediate response to the joint statement from Indian officials. India has traditionally bristled at China’s efforts to raise the Kashmir issue on Pakistan’s behalf, describing it as interference in its internal affairs.

t 020 In its edition published on Wednesday, Hindustan Times had reported on the curbs the poll body was likely to impose to ensure that elections were conducted in a safe manner.