New Delhi: A China-Pakistan joint statement Tuesday described the Kashmir issue as “left over from history” and called for its resolution through peaceful means under UNSC framework.
The remarks came after high-level discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on 25 May.
The statement was issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office as PM Shehbaz concluded his four-day visit to China. According to the statement, Pakistan briefed the Chinese side on the “latest developments” in Jammu and Kashmir. China, in turn, reiterated its longstanding position that the dispute should be “properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements”.
“Both sides reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions and reaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, and resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements,” the statement read.
In an apparent dig at India, the statement also said: “Both sides called on the international community to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation, and reaffirmed their firm opposition to applying double standards on counter-terrorism or to politicising and instrumentalising counter-terrorism.”
The two countries further pledged deeper cooperation across a range of strategic sectors, including counterterrorism, artificial intelligence, international governance and regional security coordination. The statement also referenced cooperation on trans-boundary water resources under principles of “equality and mutual benefit”.
New Delhi has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an “integral and inalienable” part of India and has firmly rejected any external involvement in matters concerning the region.
India has also repeatedly asserted that all issues related to Jammu and Kashmir must be addressed bilaterally between India and Pakistan. The government has also described constitutional and administrative decisions concerning the territory as India’s internal affairs.
The renewed Chinese endorsement of Pakistan’s position comes at a time of heightened geopolitical competition across Asia, with Beijing and Islamabad deepening strategic coordination while India strengthens ties with partners such as the United States, Japan and Australia through forums like the Quad.
Although China has periodically commented on Kashmir in multilateral settings, references in bilateral statements with Pakistan carry particular symbolic weight, signaling Beijing’s continued political support for one of Islamabad’s core foreign policy positions.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Quad condemns Pahalgam attack, calls for sustained action against terror proxies
Speaking of leftovers , if India started taking over leftovers , the original Akhand Bharat would come into existence and Tibet would be severed off China. The Hans would love to go back to their yesteryears too. No wonder the Dalai Lama found safe refuge in India.