Don't allow other relationships to influence Beijing's foreign policy towards India: EAM Jaishankar to Wang

During his meeting with Wang Yi today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he had raised the issue of the Chinese foreign minister's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir at the Islamabad OIC meeting.

"The issue did come up. I explained to him why we found the statement objectionable, it was discussed at length. There was a larger context as well, and I conveyed that we hope China would follow an independent Foreign Policy in respect of India and not allow its policies to be influenced by other countries and other relationships," he said.

EAM also discussed the issue of terrorism from Pakistan with Wang Yi, and shared with him "the Indian view of the concerns that we have in this respect and of course on the positions taken at the OIC meeting".

The meeting between the two ministers comes two days after India ticked off the Chinese Foreign Minister for his reference to Jammu and Kashmir at the OIC meet in Islamabad, saying matters related to the Union Territory are its internal matter and Beijing has no locus standi to comment.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, had in a statement on Wednesday, said that countries should note that "India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues" – in a reference to China's treatment of the Uyghur Muslims which has been globally condemned.

India's statement read: "We reject the uncalled for reference to India by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his speech at the Opening Ceremony."

"Matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir are entirely the internal affairs of India. “Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from public judgement of their internal issues," he said.

Wang Yi, in his speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meet in Islamabad, was quoted as saying: "On the Kashmir issue, we have heard the voices of many Islamic friends again today, and China has the same desire for this," without elaborating further.

"China would continue to support the people of Palestine and Kashmir in their just freedom struggles," he said.

Wang had told reporters on his arrival in Islamabad on Wednesday that "Pakistan is very nice, it is my second home".

China and Pakistan have always referred to their ties as "iron clad brothers".