New Delhi: India Tuesday rejected the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan a day earlier, after the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s two-day visit to Islamabad.
“We reject the reference to Jammu & Kashmir in the Joint Statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister. J&K is an integral part of India,” said Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.
Kumar also said that India has “consistently expressed its concerns” to Pakistan and China about the ongoing projects in the “China Pakistan Economic Corridor” (CPEC) and asked both nations to stop activities there.
“India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on projects in the so-called ‘China Pakistan Economic Corridor’, which is in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947,” Kumar added.
“India is resolutely opposed to any action by other countries to change the status quo in Pakistan occupied J&K. We call on the parties concerned to cease such actions.”
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‘China paying close attention to J&K situation’
According to the joint statement, the Pakistani side had briefed Yi about the situation, including its concerns, stance and humanitarian issues.
“The Chinese side responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation,” the joint statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Monday read.
China and Pakistan also agreed to continue “to firmly push” forward the construction of CPEC, complete on-going projects in a “timely manner and realise its full potential by focusing on socio-economic development, job creation and better livelihood, as well as accelerating cooperation in industrial parks and agriculture”.
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China would do little more than pay “attention” to the developments in J&K. Even this perfunctory attention is because of sustained pressure from its all weather friend Pakistan. It cannot say no to Pakistan.
China understands well enough that it is not in its own interests to pick up a fight with India on behalf of a Pakistani cause. The volume of India-China trade trumps every other consideration which the strategic planners might have. And to maintain such healthy and mutually beneficial economic relations it is of paramount importance that China pay just a perfunctory “attention” to developments in J&K (at the insistence of its “brother” Pakistan). No more no less.
The upcoming visit of President Xi Jinping would be crucial for the future of India-China trade relations. Both countries would do well to take steps to enhance and promote bilateral trade.
The China – Pakistan axis / convergence is hardening. At a time when we are a little unsure whether the US is standing with us like a rock. President Xi’s visit next month could prove to be somewhat symbolic, pro forma.