China Urges Indo-Pak Dialogue On Kashmir

Following the scrapping of Article 370 by the Centre, China on Friday called on India and Pakistan to resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation as the Pakistan Foreign Minister arrived in Beijing to seek support on the issue.

Sources in Beijing told news agency PTI that Shah Mahmood Quresh is in Beijing to seek China’s support for Pakistan’s efforts to ratchet-up the Kashmir issue.

Lijian Zhao, a senior Chinese diplomat in Pakistan, wrote on Twitter that Qureshi would meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other leaders. “The visit was arranged in a very short time. That’s why we are called iron brothers,” he wrote.

Qureshi’s sudden visit comes ahead of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s three-day visit to Beijing starting August 11. During the trip, Jaishankar is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

Reacting to questions about Pakistan’s decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with India and approach the UN Security Council, a Chinese foreign ministry said, “China has noted the relevant statement by Pakistan”.

“We call on Pakistan and India to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation and jointly uphold regional peace and stability,” according to a statement circulated to the media in Beijing.

No Policy Change On Kashmir: US

The US on Friday said there is no change in its policy on Kashmir and called on India and Pakistan to maintain calm and restraint, PTI reported from Washington.

“No,”, replied US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus when asked by reporters if there has been any change in America’s policy on Kashmir. “And if there was, I certainly wouldn’t be announcing it here, but no, there’s not,” she added.

The US policy has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and it is up to the two countries to decide on the pace and scope of the talks on the issue.

Ortagus further said the US supports dialogue between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.