From K J M Varma

Beijing:For the second time in less than a week, China today snubbed Pakistan by declining to back reports in Pakistani media claiming Beijing’s support for the country in the event of any aggression and backing it on the Kashmir issue.

As a “neighbour and friend”, China once again appealed to India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue to “properly” resolve disputes, including the Kashmir issue which it said was “left over from history”, and jointly work towards regional peace and stability.

Asked about reported remarks by Pakistan Consul General in Lahore Yu Boren that China will support Pakistan against any foreign aggression and backs Islamabad on the Kashmir issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told media briefing here he was not aware of any such remarks made by the envoy.

“I am not aware of the situation you mentioned. But China’s position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear,” he said.

“As the neighbour and friend to both Pakistan and India, we hope the two countries will properly address their differences through dialogue and consultation, manage and control the situation and jointly work for the peace and stability of South Asia and the growth of the region.

“With regard to the Kashmir issue, we believe it is an issue left over from history. We hope the relevant parties will peacefully and properly resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation,” he said.

He was replying to a question about remarks attributed to Yu made during his meeting with Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Shahbaz Sharif.

“In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan,” Consul General of China in Lahore Yu was quoted as saying in a press release by the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office, according to a report by Pakistani daily Dawn.

“We are and will be siding with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in (India)-held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris,” the report had quoted Yu as saying.

China’s reaction today is the second time since September 22 that it distanced itself from the Pakistani media attributing Beijing’s support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue.

China has declined to confirm Beijing’s backing to Islamabad on the issue during the meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The two leaders “exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang had told PTI here when asked about reports that Li extended support to Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.

A report in Dawn said Li had assured Sharif that China would continue to support Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. It had quoted Li telling Sharif that “we support Pakistan and we will speak for Pakistan at every forum.”

Baloch activists begin protest outside Chinese Embassy

From Aditi Khanna
London:Baloch activists have launched a week-long sit-in in front of the Chinese Embassy here to protest against “China-Pakistan nexus” in resource-rich Balochistan.

During the week-long protest two Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) members will sit in front of Chinese Embassy every day and night for six days and end with a big demonstration on October 1, which is China s National Day.

FBM described the protest as a peaceful campaign against the “China-Pakistan nexus” in Balochistan.

“China has now become the 21st century East India Company in Balochistan. Their expansionist designs are well known in the region. Its neighbouring country Vietnam is the prime example of Chinese diabolical nature which endured 17 Chinese military invasions. Today we can see that it doesn’t respect the international laws over the South China Sea,” the FBM said in a statement.

It further says that Pakistan is in conflict with Balochistan because the “morally bankrupted state, dominated by Punjab, has occupied Balochistan in March 1948 in blatant violation of international norms and law just in the name of Islam”.

“China has intensified its efforts to consolidate its permanent grip over Balochistan’s Gwadar coast and other areas where in 2001 it sought to anchor its military outpost in the name of Gwadar deep-sea port project,” the statement adds.

Activists began their protests with placards which read: “CPEC [China Pakistan Economic Border] is the corridor of death and destruction for Baloch” and “China: Hands off Balochistan”.

FBM has called on all pro-freedom Baloch and other human rights activists in the UK and Europe to take part in this protest campaign. PTI