Differences should not become disputes: Jaishankar tells China amid Kashmir move
Beijing, Aug 12 (IBNS): In the wake of China's disapproval of the Indian government's Kashmir move, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Beijing, on Monday said the "differences" between the two countries should not result in "disputes."
During his meeting with State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi, Jaishankar said the future of the India-China relationship will obviously depend on "mutual sensitivity to each other’s core concerns."
"It is natural, both as neighbours and large developing economies that there would be issues in our ties. Properly managing differences is therefore vital. As our leaders agreed in Astana, differences should not become disputes. That is how India-China relations can remain a factor of stability in an uncertain world," the External Affairs Minister said.
He said the positive direction of ties after the Wuhan Summit has opened up a world of new convergences.
"Exploiting this and taking our ties to a new level will require strong public support in both societies. The media can make a major contribution to that goal."
China's stand on Kashmir issue:
Earlier the Chinese government had asked both India and Pakistan to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation.
"China noted the relevant statement by Pakistan. The pressing priority is that the relevant party should stop unilaterally changing the status quo and avoid escalation of tensions," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.
"We call on Pakistan and India to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation and jointly uphold regional peace and stability," Hua Chunying said.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited China recently and met country's counterpart Wang Yi.
" Foreign Minister Wang Yi has acknowledged that India’s aggressive stance on Kashmir leaves the people of Kashmir vulnerable and voiceless while also putting the entire region at risk," Qureshi tweeted.
"China supports Pakistan’s repeated calls for peace and stability and we will work together to highlight the voice of Kashmiris to the world," he said.
Modi's Kashmir googly:
Indian Parliament in a bold decision passed the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 which bifurcated the terror-hit northern state into two Union Territories - J&K, a Union Territory with Legislative Assembly, and Ladakh, a UT without Legislative Assembly.
The Modi government scrapped Article 35 A and Article 370 which were used to give Jammu and Kashmir a special status.
Article 35A of the Indian Constitution allowed the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and also provided special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.
Article 370 allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.
Image credit: Raveesh Kumar Twitter Page
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