China distances itself from reports of Li backing Pakistan

From K J M Varma

Beijing:China today distanced itself from Pakistani media reports which claimed that Premier Li Keqiang had conveyed China’s backing to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

“Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on September 21 in New York. They exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said when asked about reports that Li extended support to Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.

“The issue of Kashmir is an issue left over from history.

Our stance on that is consistent. We hope that parties concerned will pursue a peaceful settlement through dialogue,” Lu said when asked about the Pakistani media reports.

Pakistan’s Dawn News reported that China endorses Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and Li had assured that China would continue to support Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.

Li, while meeting Prime Minister Sharif on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, was quoted by the daily as saying, “We support Pakistan and we will speak for Pakistan at every forum.”

Similar reports were carried by other Pakistani media like Geo TV claiming China’s backing as Sharif made unsuccessful attempts to shore up support for Pakistan’s rhetoric on Kashmir.

China also voiced concerns over the rising tensions in Kashmir after Uri attack and sought “effective” measures from New Delhi and Islamabad to ensure the safety of foreigners, including the Chinese, working on the USD 46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Asked whether China is concerned about safety of hundreds of its personnel working on CPEC amid reports that Pakistan has cancelled flights to areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) due to “air space restrictions” in the wake of Uri terrorist attack, Lu said, “the Chinese side is concerned about the tension in Kashmir”.

“We hope that parties concerned will exercise restraint, peacefully resolve difference through dialogue, avoid escalating tension and work jointly for peace and stability of the region,” he said.

About the concerns of safety of Chinese workers, Lu said, “We also hope that effective means will be taken by parties concerned to ensure the safety and normal life of local people and citizens from other countries including China”.

Lu’s comments came in the backdrop of a sense of disquiet here over Pakistan escalating tensions in Kashmir as Beijing faces a complex situation over CPEC — one of its biggest overseas projects. India has lodged repeated protests over the project which passes through PoK.

Pakistan has ”nothing to gain” from Uri attack: Foreign Office

From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad:Pakistan today rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault on an army camp in Uri town in Kashmir that killed at least 18 soldiers, saying it has “nothing to gain” from this attack.

Such incidents are part of the “Indian attempt to divert attention of the world community” from Kashmir, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said at the weekly briefing here.

“Pakistan has nothing to gain from this attack…It has become Indian habit to point accusing fingers at Pakistan after every such incident in India,” he said.

India has told Pakistan that it has evidence showing involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists in the Uri attack and demanded that Islamabad refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism directed against this country.

Zakaria said the entire nation was ready to defend the country in case of any attack by India after the Uri incident.

To a question on airspace restrictions over northern part of the country, he said that Pakistan Air Force was carrying out routine exercises which are not linked to the prevailing security situation.

He claimed that Pakistan “has concrete evidence of Indian sponsored terrorism in various areas including Balochistan and Karachi, which had been proved by the arrest and confession of RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadev”.

“The recent statement of Indian Prime Minister was yet another proof of Indian involvement in terrorism and terror financing in Pakistan aimed at destabilizing the country,” he said.

The spokesperson said that the request by Baloch leader Brahmdagh Bugti to seek asylum in India “only confirms that India was deeply involved in terrorism in Balochistan”.

He said Pakistan is a peaceful country and peaceful neighbourhood is the vision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who has demanded the UN to implement its resolutions on Kashmir.

Zakaria alleged that India security forces were continuing “brutalities” in Kashmir and asked the UN Secretary-General, UN Human Rights Commissioner and international community to take measures to stop the violence.

PTI